Zack Aura recalled as KHU name World Series squad
Nakuru Hockey Club's Caleb Nyakundi vies for the ball with Zack Aura of Butali Sugar Warriors during their Kenya Hockey Union men's Premier League match at City Park Stadium on April 3, 2016. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |
What you need to know:
- The team, which is meant to start training next Monday, has five new names with the highlight being the return of Wanangwe brothers - Frank and Davies.
- National men’s team manager Godfrey Bila said the team will be training on Monday and Wednesday as well as every fourth weekend of the month.
Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) has released a provisional list of 34 players that will start training for the World League One Series to be held in September in Accra, Ghana.
The team, which is meant to start training next Monday, has five new names with the highlight being the return of Wanangwe brothers - Frank and Davies.
The duo last played for the national team during the last edition of the World League Series held in Nairobi in 2014. They missed last year’s Africa Cup of Nations cum 2016 Rio Olympic qualifiers held in Johannesburg.
Frank was unable to travel with the team due to work commitments while his younger brother, Davies, was recovering from a broken knee. The former helped Butali Sugar Warriors win back-to-back league titles last season while Davies absence saw his club Sikh Union Nairobi finish a disappointing eighth place.
Other new call ups to the national team are Kenya Police defender Robert Masibo, who impressed on his debut for the law enforcers, USIU fullback Neville Mulupi and Chris Wokila of Greensharks.
National men’s team manager Godfrey Bila said the team will be training on Monday and Wednesday as well as every fourth weekend of the month.
“These players are proven winners and we urge the clubs to ensure they attend the training sessions so that we can adequately prepare for the tourney,” Bila said on Thursday.
AURA RECALLED
Bila also included Zack Aura, who captained Kenya to a third place finish in South Africa last year, and thereafter announced his retirement from national team duty.
“I have had fruitful talks with Zack and I am positive he will still be available for national team selection because he still has a lot to offer,” he added.
The team will later on be whittled down to a final travelling squad of 18 players.
The women’s provisional team will also be released this weekend before they start training on Monday.
The women’s team also won bronze at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations which was won by the hosts with Ghana finishing in second place.
PROVISIONAL SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Linus Sang, Allan Agesa, Mike Agesa, Pius Ratori
Defenders: Kenneth Nyongesa, Maxwell Wakhungu, Constant Wakhura, Richard Birir, Robert Masibo, Victor Wekesa, Neville Mulupi, Bill Olang, Kennedy Munialo, Isaack Nandukule
Midfielders: Oliver Echenje, Brian Saina, Willis Okeyo, Allan Iningu, Derick Kuloba, Frank Wanangwe, Zack Aura, Victor Osiche, Alex Kubasu, Francis Esikuri
Forwards: Lawrence Olaka, George Mutira, Davis Wanangwe, Festus Onyango, Francis Kariuki, James Mudhee, Arnold Marango, Chris Wokila, Andrew Kamau, Gilbert Langat
