FLOOR HOCKEY PREPS: Kenya to defend world title in Austria

Brand and Marketing consultant Farmers choice Mike Anderson (right0 donate foods and sporting equipments to Floor Hockey team at Nyayo National stadium on Friday, Feb 17, 2017. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

The Kenya team set to defend the Special Olympics World Winter Games title in Graz, Austria, has reported for residential camp at Nyayo Stadium.

Kenya surprised the world when it won gold in floor hockey when the country made a debut in the games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Ahead of the games that begin on March 14-25, coach Robert Kangi is training the team twice a day.

“We need this intensive training in order to cover and finish our schedule in time before we fly out on March 13,”said Kangi, who is being assisted by Andrew Mutua and Elizabeth Chesang.

“We are trying to perfect tactical skills. I am glad the fitness levels of the squad is good, which gives us the time to strengthen our tactical approaches.

The squad of 12 under head coach Kangi will put up at the YMCA hostels in South C.

Farmer’s Choice are sponsoring the team’s daily breakfast at the hostel for the 30 days they will be in camp.

“This is the third time we are sponsoring the Special Olympics Kenya team. This time we will donate breakfast worth Sh52,000,” Farmer’s Choice Brand and Marketing Consultant Mike Anderson said.

Added: “We are proud to be associated with the national team as floor hockey is such a rare game, more so to find a team from Kenya that has no winter weather, playing the game.”

Special Olympics of Kenya Country Director Susan Masila said the federation needs Sh30 million to comfortably host the national team in training and fly them to Austria and back.

“We urge urge corporates and well-wishers to emulate Farmer’s Choice by supporting the team. Donation can also be done online at gofundme.com,” Masila said.

Masila is grateful to National Bank of Kenya, Charity Sweepstakes and the Ministry of Sports among others for pledging their sponsorships.

Masila, who has assured that they will successfully defend the trophy, said the country only takes part in floor hockey in the games as the discipline is played indoors hence do not require ice as other sports like cross country skiing, skating, snowboarding among others.