Three foreign teams to grace Vaisakhi tournament
What you need to know:
- GRA were the first to arrive in the country last Friday
- Former champions Kenya Police missed last year’ event
Three foreign teams will take part in this year’s edition of the Vaisakhi hockey tournament that gets underway Wednesday afternoon at the City Park Stadium.
Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Uganda Simba and United Kingdom’s Veterans Club will be part of the 12 clubs that will take part in the men’s event.
The women’s tournament has attracted three teams, defending champions Telkom Orange, Strathmore Scorpions and the national junior women’s team Simbarettes.
GRA were the first to arrive in the country last Friday while Veterans jetted in on Monday evening and Uganda Simba are expected in the country on Wednesday.
The Ghanaians, who lost to Tanzanian outfit Moshi CSSL in the final last year, are in Pool A alongside local clubs Greensharks and Impala. Moshi CSSL have opted out of this year’s event.
Former champions Kenya Police, who missed last year's event, are in Pool B alongside Strathmore Gladiators and Uganda Simba. Police will count on their fine start to the league in their bid to reclaim the title they last won in 2013.
The law enforcers are joint top in the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) men’s premier league with six points same as champions Butali Sugar Warriors.
“We will use the event to gauge our performance this season so far and also use it for gauging ourselves ahead of the African Club Championship which will be a tough event,” Police coach Peter Kaunda told Nation Sport on Tuesday.
Warriors have opted out of the event with their eyes trained on the African Club Championship set for December in Egypt.
TOUGH MATCH
Group C consists of Wazalendo, Chase Sailors and UK veterans while Nairobi Sikh Union, Parkroad and Karate Axiom are in pool D.
Orange, the women’s defending champions, will kick start their title defence campaign this afternoon against bitter rivals Strathmore Scorpions in what should be a cracker. It will be the first clash between the two giants this season who are targeting to win the league and continental events.
Scorpions will be out for restore some pride having lost 7-0 to Orange in last year’s final and also finished second to their bitter rivals in the league.
“We have a good squad this year and I believe they have what it takes to win trophies. We are hungry for titles,” said Scorpions coach Meshack Senge. With three teams taking part in the women’s event, the top two teams will face off in the final on Sunday.
