2010 Kenya Hockey champions Strathmore has sent out a warning that they are back to reclaim their title they lost to Police in the last season after finishing second behind the men in blue.And as days to the 2012 season kick off draw closer, Strathmore coach Meshack Senge sounds optimistic saying “ never write off Strathmore”.
Strathmore as an institution has crafted a solid structure of nurturing talents in most sports disciplines in Kenya with majority of their school teams’ excelling in national leagues across the board. Hockey has not been left behind either and is among the best perfoming teams from the University.
“We don’t go for established players, we have our own whom we nurture and mould to become world beaters. Most of them later graduate and move on after completing studies and we are forced to rebuild talents afresh.”Said Senge.
Some of the players who graduate end up joining other local clubs in the same league.As a immediate example, The coach confirmed that Hillary Pepola will be officially leaving the students side for Nairobi Simba club.Three other players could soon leave the team though no club has been linked with their move so far.These are George Mutira, Dennis Mwanango and Brian Musasia who are rumored to be heading to Italy.
Fresh from school to strengthen the squad in the ladies team that also plays in the top league are Linda Ayodi, Nancy Wayoi and Joan Adisi.
Senge could not conclude without a word on the new hockey league format that will be played in a two legged format.
“I don’t know why it took them so long to abolish the opportunistic kind of league, it was disadvantageous to participants and it was difficult to gauge the real winner, even in terms of fitness it was not helpful to the players.”
“Hockey needs endurance without which one cannot compete favorably at the continental level given that other countries play over 30 games. Kenya only plays like 12 matches, once you win a league you need to feel like a champion after endurance and not a matter of luck. He likened it to boxing where a player can deliver a knock out blow and wins the match without necessarily being the best”, added the coach
Just as other coaches,Senge urged the union to have a clear calendar on when the league starts and ends, “we are always made to guess on when the league will start, just as in other sports we need professionalism in hockey, delays in league starts doesn’t help our training ,we hope they take that it consideration in future.”
Both Strathmore ladies and male teams are currently undergoing training at the Nairobi sports club as from 5pm daily under the watchful eye of head coach, Meshack Senge
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