Kenyan hockey recovers from abyss
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E-mail Xinhua, August 21, 2013
Once a powerhouse in global hockey, Kenya used to be picked by the then world's leading nations; India and Pakistan for prior preparations in the form of friendly matches before events like the Olympics or the World Cup.
During the period, the two hockey powerhouses would make frequent visits to Kenya to play against one of the world's best hockey side.
The team, then comprising celebrities such as Paul Omany standing tall between the posts; defenders Lucas Alubakha - the penalty specialist who used to combine well with fellow defenders Julius Akumu Parminder Saini "Kake", Eliud Okoth, Roy Odhier, Harvinder Kular, Charles Oguk and Barjinder David.
The forward line consisted of veterans like Peter Akatsa, Chris Otambo, Sam Ngoyo, Sam Muange, brothers Simi and Amit Goyal, Samson Oriso, Inderjeet Matharu and Jaswinder Sagoo.
This is the team that won the African title 26 years ago in 1987 during the All Africa Games hosted in Nairobi and which gave Kenya an automatic berth to represent the continent during the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, which also marked Kenya's last time to participate at the Olympiad in hockey.
On their way to the final during the All Africa Games, Kenya had trounced Zambia 5-0 before beating Nigeria 5-1.
They later held their archrivals Zimbabwe to a barren draw before humiliating Zambia once more to a 15-0 trouncing to prove their mettle.
Having made their debut appearance at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and even finished number four during the 1972 World Cup in Spain, for two-and-a-half decades the game in Kenya slumped to such an extent that it failed to qualify for any global event.
The country was over-shadowed by Egypt and South Africa, and with facilities at City Park - Kenya's premier hockey stadium - completely depleted the number of teams; both men and women gradually went down for lack of sponsorship and hockey was virtually non-existent in the provinces.
Jasmer Singh, former Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) executive committee member says the sport appeared all but dead in the country and no foreign teams showed any interest in visiting Kenya as there was no artificial surface to play on.
"Relations with the continental body African Hockey Union (AHU) and the global body Federation of International Hockey (FIH) deteriorated with the Kenya Hockey Union getting adverse publicity from the local media as it got at loggerheads with the clubs and the ministry in charge of sports," the former national selector for the 1960 and 1964 Olympics said.
However, in November 2004, a new constitution approved by the AHU and FIH was promulgated that gave powers to the KHU to govern both men and women hockey and thereby providing gender equality.
Under the new constitution, Resham Bains, a former Olympian and international hockey umpire was elected chairman for a four-year term.
As a former senior vice-chairman, he had not only acquired experience by having attended FIH and continental congresses, he had also made vital contacts which enabled KHU to apply for and secure a grant of 100,000 U.S. dollars for putting up the surface at the City Park Stadium which was initially installed in 1986 for the All Africa Games the following year.
With the dynamic leadership of Bains, Kenyan hockey began its revival as signs started showing the country moving upwards to occupy its position among the leading nations in Africa.
When the artificial surface became a reality in 2006; the ministry of sports gave 53,000 dollars; the ministry of finance got the duty and tax waivers on the artificial surface; the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through its local affiliate the National Olympic Committee-Kenya (NOC-K) chipped in with 20,000 dollars.
The union's relationship with the media, the parent ministry and other sports bodies took a turn in the right direction and more emphasis began to be put in streamlining the various leagues and crowds began to return to the stands.
"The basics of sports development were forgotten and wrangling that neither benefitted players took centre-stage. In that confusion, participation in major tournaments, both competitive and friendlies were forgotten," Bains said.
In 2007 Kenya hosted the Africa Club Championships most successfully and was consequently offered an opportunity to host the Africa Olympic Qualifying Tournament a couple of months later in 2007.
For this tournament, Kenya secured the services of Dutch coach of international caliber, Roger Van Gent, who was seconded by the world hockey body to prepare the Kenyan national teams for the qualifiers.
Kenya is now being shown more interest by foreign teams and has since become the centre of hockey in Africa with continental and international bodies holding meetings and congresses in the country.
City Park is now a modern sports complex with automatic sprinkler system, floodlights and electronic clock and scoreboard.
"The repair of City Park meant a lot to me and my executive committee because we believed it was the key that held the immense potential that lain in Kenyan hockey," said Bains.
Bains retired last month after serving two-term tenure after he sought not to seek re-election, which ushered into office his long-serving former First Vice-Chairman, Nahashon Randiak. "I have done my part, let others play their part too," he summed up. Endi
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