Kenya's hockey legend Parminder Saini dead

Kenyan hockey legend Parminder Saini "Kake" has passed away after a short illness.

According to Kenya Hockey Union, the 66 years-old who was part of the team that represented Kenya at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics in Los Angeles and Seoul, passed away on Sunday evening at a Kisumu hospital.

In a tribute on their official social media handle, Kenya Hockey Union said: “Kenyan hockey legend Parminder Saini "Kake" has passed away aged 63. Kake was born on 19 September 1957 in Kisumu, Kenya. He studied at Miwani Primary School, Kisumu, and Kisumu Boys High School. He played hockey for Kisumu Boys High School up to 1976.”

HockeyKE also took to social media to condole with the family and friends of the Legend.

“We are saddened to hear of the passing of Parminder 'Kake' Saini. He was truly a great and extraordinary man. Many in the hockey community will deeply mourn his passing as his was a life of service, love, compassion, and excellence. May he rest in eternal peace,” HockeyKE tweeted.

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Parminder 'Kake' Saini. He was truly a great and extraordinary man. Many in the hockey community will deeply mourn his passing as his was a life of service, love, compassion, and excellence. May he rest in eternal peace.

PHOTO | Courtesy pic.twitter.com/FsmHLauqgG — HockeyKE (@hockeyKE) May 31, 2021

"Kake" was also part of the Kenyan team that won the hockey gold medal at the 1987 All African Games in Nairobi, Kenya.

According to www.sikhsinhockey.com, "Kake” was born on 19 September 1957 in Kisumu, studied at Miwani Primary School, Kisumu, and Kisumu Boys High School.

He played hockey for Kisumu Boys High School up to 1976.

He went to the UK for further studies in 1976 and studied at Langley College, Slough, and Berkshire.

Thereafter he joined Slough Hockey Club, one of the top hockey clubs in the country at the time, and played for the club's 1st team until 1979.

He returned to Kenya in 1979 and joined Kisumu Simba Union Club.

He represented Kenya at the six nation’s tournament in Loisano, Italy where he earned his first international cap when he was selected to play against India on 5 September 1981.

He captained Kenya at the East African Championship in Tanga, Tanzania in 1983.

He played for Africa in the inaugural Inter-Continent Tournament played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in December 1990.

He played his last international match against Zimbabwe in Nairobi on 13 February 1993.

After retiring from playing, Kake coached Kisumu Simba Union (Butali Hockey Club). He was the Manager of the Kenya team at the All Africa Games in South Africa in 1999.

Until his death, Kake was the vice-chairman of KHU from 2014 to 2015 and a technical advisor.