Clubs to feel the pinch in tourney

Four local hockey clubs will feel the pinch after the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) directed them to contribute Sh250,000 each towards this year’s Africa Club Championship to be held in Nairobi.

The quartet - Butali Sugar Warriors, Kenya Police, Telkom Orange and Sliders - will represent the country at the annual continental showpiece due January 7-15 at the City Park Stadium.

Kenya was awarded the hosting rights by the Africa Hockey Federation after Zimbabwe pulled out of hosting the event due to financial constraints. According to a letter sent to the clubs by the union and signed by chairman Nahshon Randiek, the clubs are to make the payments by November 20 to assist in running the tourney.

“The tournament is hosted and financed by the Kenya Hockey Union in conjunction with the clubs and therefore you are required to contribute Sh250,000 towards the running cost of the event. Make payments by November 20, 2016,” read part of the letter seen by Daily Nation Sport.

All clubs taking part in the showpiece are also expected to part with 300 Euros (Sh33,827) to the continental body.

“An entry fee of Three hundred Euros per club is payable to the African Hockey Federation through the KHU by November 20, 2016.”

Randiek defend the move, saying it is not aimed at burdening the clubs but simply ensuring the country hosts a successful championship.

He revealed that the union was working with a budget of Sh4 million.

“This amount is way smaller than what these clubs would have spent had the event been outside the country. We are simply making the request in good will and hope that the clubs will take it positively, “he told Daily Nation Sport .

“The union has the task of raising the larger amount of the budget but we must all chip in to ensure the country makes a good event.” In the last two years, only Telkom Orange has represented the country at the continental event held outside the country.

Orange beat Ghana Police 3-2 on penalty flicks in last year's edition held in Zambia to win a record eighth title and their fourth in a row.

Men’s league champions Butali Sugar Warriors and Kenya Police missed the last two editions held in Zambia and Zimbabwe respectively due to financial implications.

Strathmore’s women’s hockey team also missed last year’s event after the university administration revealed it did not have a budget for the team to travel to the Southern African nation.

Sliders, who finished second in last season’s women’s league, are self-sponsored.