Kenya’s hockey Cup of Nations hunt dealt a blow

By ELIZABETH MBURUGU

KENYA: Hosts Kenya started their campaign in the hockey Africa Cup of Nations on a sour note with both men and women teams losing their opener matches at Nairobi’s City Park Stadium yesterday.

The Kenya men’s team went down 3-2 to Egypt while the women side were routed 3-1 by the defending champions South Africa.

This puts a big hurdle in Kenya’s quest to make its maiden show at the World Cup in The Hague in 2014. Only the winners of the men and women teams will secure the ticket to the global hockey fiesta.

The men’s match against giants Egypt started off well with Kenya sitting back and utelising the counter attack system. However, this approach did not bare fruits as the home team failed to break through the Pharaoh’s defence.

The Egyptians capitalised on Kenya’s failure to under pressure.

Superb play, however, from Brian Sana prolonged Kenya’s resilience clearing the ball off the line to deny the Pharaohs a chance to take the lead. Three minutes later the Egyptians were at it again but team captain Richard Birir came to the rescue.

The Egyptians broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute through a Mohamed Ragab field goal, which gave them a 1-0 advantage at the breather. 

Kenya came into the second half rejuvenated and their efforts paid off in the 49th minute through Moses Cheplaiti who levelled the scores.

Ragab was not done yet tormenting Kenya’s defence line and in the 52nd minute he silenced the fans to restore Egypt’s lead capitalising on poor judgment from goalkeeper Linus Kipkemboi.

George Mutira pulled one back in the 61st minute to level the score. Kenya put up a hard fight but were given a rough ride by the Egyptians.

In the dying minutes, it seemed like the game was headed for a draw. However, the Egyptians snatched victory in the 69th minute through a Mohamed Ramadan field goal to deflect Kenya’s fighting spirit.

Head coach Meshack Senge said the team will work on its defence and hopes to win the remaining matches to make the finals.

“We had a bad start conceding soft goals. Poor judgment cost us the game,” he said. “We still have a chance to correct our mistakes in our next matches.”

In the women’s match, Kenya got off well and took the lead just five minutes into the game through a Jacqueline Jow field goal.

The first half saw a very determined Kenyan side that was not ready to let go off the lead. They contained the South Africans defending very well.

The visitors however, took the game to Kenya’s side  and worked relentlessly. Their efforts were rewarded in the 34th minute with Mayne Jade scoring a fantastic field goal to level the score.

With their title on the line Du Plessis Lilian scored a second in the 53rd minute to putting the defending champions in the lead. Tanya Britz sealed the victory in the 61st minute to strengthen South Africa’s hopes of retaining the title.

Kenya’s coach Fidelis Kimanzi was still optimistic that  his charges will win the remaining matches.

“We will put up a fight in the remaining matches. It is still in our hands, we can change the course,” he said.  — [email protected]