Kenya’s path to Rio Games cleared by SA
What you need to know:
- The winners of the event in Egypt will represent the continent at the Rio Games.
The national men’s and women's hockey team’s chances of making it to next year’s Olympic Games have been increased in the absence of African champions South Africa in the continental qualifiers in Egypt in October.
The winners of the event in Egypt will represent the continent at the Rio Games. The South African teams have been eliminated from the World League qualifying series and according to reports in the Citizen, a leading newspaper in South Africa, the country’s Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee has ruled out qualification through continental qualifiers.
The two Kenyan teams were also eliminated in the World League series with the women’s team reaching the second round where they finished last in the event held in Uruguay back in February.
NO CELEBRATIONS YET
The men’s team failed to get past the first round after losing 2-1 to Egypt in a closely fought final. Women’s coach Jos Openda said the absence of South Africa at the continental event leaves his team with a huge chance of making it to their first ever Olympic Games but warned against early celebrations.
“We still have to ensure we are well prepared for the event before we start thinking of the Olympics. South Africa’s absence means that the other teams all have an equal chance of making it and we therefore need to be prepared,” Openda said.
The teams are however yet to report to camp with players opting to stay away due to unpaid allowances from previous international assignments. The men’s team has qualified for the Olympics four times with their last appearance in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea.
Openda urged the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) to ensure the preparations for the continental event are not disrupted. With the absence of South Africa, Kenya’s main threat at the event will come from hosts Egypt as well as Ghana.
