Kenya’s Chui are placed in pool B alongside Ghana, Egypt and Zambia with the host being placed in group A with Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
The Kenya men’s hockey team is all set to represent the nation in the chase for the elusive for the Olympics ticket at the qualifiers set to run between October 29 to November 5 in Pretoria.
Veteran Butali Warriors duo of defender and skipper Constant Wakhura and midfielder Allan Iningu being among those who will lead Kenya’s hunt.
The two have been constant figures in the national team and their experience will be highly counted on in South Africa where Kenya will be bidding to return to the Olympics after more than two decades in the cold.
While the Blades have never qualified for the Olympics, Chui have graced the Olympics four times with the recent participation in the event being 1988.
Kenya debuted in the quadrennial event in 1956 and made second appearance in 1972 before returning for the third time in 1984.
Other senior players who boarded the plane with the team for Pretoria include the fast-rising Western Jaguars captain Ivan Ludiali who skippered the team to a third-place finish last season.
Butali defender Kennedy Munialo is also in the team so are his teammates: Festus Onyango who won the Golden stick with Strathmore University seven years ago.
Moses Ademba and Francis Kariuki are also drawn from the reigning champions who contributed six players.
Former Strathmore University defender Moses Mungai who crossed to Jaguars, Wazalendo midfielder Cliff Omari and USIU-A Mashujaa danger man Danson Wabwire had their names included in the final team.
Kenya’s Chui are placed in pool B alongside Ghana, Egypt and Zambia with the host being placed in group A with Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
The top two teams in each group will advance to the semis with the winner sealing a place in the Summer Olympics set for next year in Paris.
The Kenya women’s team is in pool B together with Ghana, Namibia, and Zambia.
Both teams have scheduled friendly matches against local teams in Pretoria as they shape up for the qualifiers that commence this weekend.
Team
Samuel Silong, Joshua Omondi
Defenders
Constant Wakhura, Robert Masibo, Charles Ashihundu, Mathias Gularile, Moses Mungai, Kennedy Munialo
Midfielders
Francis Kariuki, Ivan Ludiali, Brian Ogenche, Cliff Omari, Allan Iningu
Forwards
Danstone Wabwire, Bethwel Masambu, Moses Ademba, Festus Onyango, Titus Kimutai