By ELIZABETH MBURUGU
Tournament favourites Egypt have pulled out of the hockey Africa Nations Cup tournament due to political unrest in their country.
This brings down the number of men’s teams that will compete at the continental contest to just six. Nairobi’s City Park Stadium will stage the ten-day tournament from September 26 to October 5.
Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) vice chairperson Ellyna Shiveka said the six countries that will enter men teams are South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Seychelles, Namibia and hosts Kenya. The women’s teams expected will be South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Namibia and Tanzania.
South Africa are the defending champions in both the men and women’s categories. A win in this tournament will earn the victors an automatic ticket to the hockey World Cup, which will be held in The Hague, Netherlands in 2014.
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At the same time, Shiveka said the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has appointed four neutral umpires from Europe to officiate in the event.
Ivona Makar of Croatia and Violeta Eismayer of Austria have been selected to oversee umpiring in the female fixtures while Sebastian Duterme of Belgium and Coen Van Bunge (Netherlands) will be in charge of the men’s matches as neutral umpires.
The tournament director is Ghanian Richard Akpokarie assisted by compatriot Ghanian Frank Oti Mensah serving as a technical officer.
Seven Kenyans have alsobeen appointed to officiate in the tournament. Davinder Singh and Dorothy Muga will assume the roles of technical officer. The second woman technical officer will be appointed later. Shiraz Yacub is the umpire’s manager while Tony Fernandes and Karen Ouma will be umpiring. Mohammed Khan and Esther Adolwa will be judges.
Kenya’s teams are in non-residential training at City Park stadium. However in a quest to better their chances of lifting the silverware, they will have a three week residential session at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani just before the games start.
“The team will be at Kasarani for intense training. We are just waiting on the government to approve our budget. KHU is in talks with the government,” said Shiveka.
The local organising committee is making final preparations to ensure they host a successful tournament.
Men’s team coach Meshack Senge however, exuded confidence Kenya will do well. “We are training intensely and the boys are giving it their best. They are very committed, we want to win because we have the home advantage,” he said.
