Broke Kenyan hockey clubs avoid Egypt trip

The Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) is opening up slots for teams ranked within the top five to participate at the Africa Cup for Club Championships after three of four eligible teams passed up the chance.

Butali Sugar Warriors, Kenya Police and Strathmore University have all withdrawn from the continental tournament over financial constraints, the KHU president Nahashion Randiek confirmed.

The trio, along with Blazers (formerly Telkom) who have declared will honour the trip, had qualified for the December 1-10 showpiece in Ismailia, Egypt by virtue of finishing inside the top two places of the men and women KHU leagues.

According to KHU president Nahashion Randiek, they will allow other teams to take their place if they have they can fund their trip.

“I know money is a challenge but as a union I think next time we will give this opportunity to more teams. We will not limit it to the winners but rather open it up and say anyone who is capable and is within the five top positions in the premier league and have money then we will allow them to travel”, Randiek said.

“There are no repercussions for the three teams that have pulled out because they pulled out within the stipulated time but it is sad that there is no men’s team going for the tournament,” Randiek added.

Kenya Police head coach Patrick Mugambi has echoed Randiek’s sentiments  saying that lack of funds necessitated the decision.

“For the last two years we haven’t gone for the tournament even though we qualified simply because of money. It brings the morale of the game down but there is nothing we can do,” Mugambi lamented.

On the other hand, his counterpart Butali Sugar Warriors Coach Denis Owaka expressed his sadness for missing the tournament and the fact that the men teams will not be represented

Blazers have won the tournament for the last ten years in the women’s category.

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