Hockey players yet to receive allowances

Victor Gitahi of Mombasa Sports Club and Brian Ahenda of Bay Rugby Club playing during the Kenya hockey union men premier league match at City Park stadium on September 28, 2014. Kenya hockey players are yet to be paid their allowances a month after the conclusion of the World League One series that was held in Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • When contacted, sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch said the delay in the release of funds was due to some issues in the exchequer which would soon be cleared paving way for the release of the funds
  • The women’s team is set to travel to Uruguay next February for the second round which will bring round one winners from around the world
  • During last year’s Africa Cup of Nations that were held in Nairobi, the men’s and women’s team were paid close to Sh40,000, a difference of Sh30,000

Kenya hockey players are yet to be paid their allowances a month after the conclusion of the World League One series that was held in Nairobi.

The men and women’s team players were promised payment of their allowances two weeks after the conclusion of the event that saw the women’s team advance to the second round of the qualifiers while the men’s team failed at the last hurdle after losing to Egypt in their last match.

But KHU chairman Nashon Randiek, while confirming that indeed the players had not been paid their allowances, said that it was the government that was meant to pay the players their dues.

When contacted, sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch said the delay in the release of funds was due to some issues in the exchequer which would soon be cleared paving way for the release of the funds.

BE PATIENT

He assured the players that they would be paid their allowances and urged them to remain patient.

“We will pay them, they just need to be a little bit patient as we sort out some issues but we promise that the money is there and we will release it,” said Oluoch.

The women’s team is set to travel to Uruguay next February for the second round which will bring round one winners from around the world.

According to senior players, who spoke to Daily Nation Sport on condition of anonymity, the Union has gone silent on when their allowances that had been reduced to Sh15,000 per figure will be paid.

“We have been taken round in circles on when the money will be paid. They keep telling us that someone is working it out. Some of us have given up hope that we shall ever be paid that money”, said one of the players.

Another player said that he would reconsider playing for the national team in future assignments with such treatments.

REDUCED PAY

“Had we known that was the amount that we would be given, we would have boycotted the games. Some of us shall not play for the national team in the future, if this is how we are treated”, said another player.

The players were also demoralised prior to the event when they were informed by the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) that their allowances had been reduced to Sh15,000 hours before the men’s team took to the pitch against Tanzania in their first game.

During last year’s Africa Cup of Nations that were held in Nairobi, the men’s and women’s team were paid close to Sh40,000, a difference of Sh30,000.