Government offer support as hockey teams to Egypt are named

Sports News: Men premier League- Kenya Police vs Strathmore University Strathmore University Jackton Oketch(l) and Kenya Police Oliver Echenje fight for the ball when they played Men premier at City Park. Police scored 1-0. ON 28/05/2017 PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE

Both men’s and women’s sides will be involved in the competition

State gives Sh7.5m as teams heading to Egypt are named

Kenya Police attacking midfielder Oliver Echenje finally makes it to the men’s national team.

The Government has given Kenya Hockey Union Sh7.5 million for the trip to this year’s hockey Africa Cup of Nations set for Ismailia, Egypt from 22 to 29 this month.

The support from the Government was revealed at an event where the squads were named in Nairobi yesterday. Kenya Hockey Union patron Chris Diaz appreciated the support and promised better things.

“It’s a great thing to receive support from the Government. With such and other partners on board, our hockey teams will do well and we will work all-round to improve on many areas for the success of the sport,” Diaz told The Standard Sports. 

In the named teams, Kenya Police attacking midfielder Oliver Echenje finally made it to the men’s national team.

Echenje is among the new faces in the men’s national team that will be seeking the continental gong as well as a ticket to next year’s World Cup.

An esctatic Echenje vowed to make his inclusion to the team worthwhile. 

“It feels good to finally make it after countless failed attempts. It is every player's desire to represent their country and that is why I never gave up,” he said.

Butali’s Maxwell Fuchaka will captain the side with Willis Okeyo of police assisting him.  Moses Ademba of Multimedia is on standby.