Kenya: Soldiers End Nakuru's Bright Run  x2
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March 28, 2005
AllAfrica.com, Africa
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Two quick goals by Armed Forces defender Rashid Saidi and Bernard Mirigi gave the soldiers a 2-1 top-of-the table Kenya Hockey Union league victory over Nakuru Athletic Club at Nairobi Simba Union ground on Saturday.
The win ended Nakuru's five-match unbeaten run and saw the youthful side drop to second position in the eight-team league.
Nakuru Athletic Club had scored first through Gary Jean-Louis' 34th minute goal. Saidi levelled terms in the 61st minute before Mirigi struck the winner in the 63rd.
Last weekend, the soldiers were humbled 1-0 by Kenya Police.
Over the weekend Wazalendo collected two points by drawing against Nairobi Simba Union and Police.
Once again it was left to veteran players to come to the aid of Wazalendo. On Friday, it was Wycliffe Ongori who scored with only a few minutes left on the clock against Police. On Saturday, another veteran Fidelis Kimanzi, ensured a share of the spoils for Wazalendo with a 27th minute leveller. The goal cancelled Jaswinder Chana's early strike for Nairobi Simba.
Off the pitch, things are looking up for the KHU executive. Three astro turf surface experts have been short listed for the job at the City Park Stadium. This follows an International Hockey Federation meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. The companies are Commercial carpets from Argentina, Kolon of South Korea and another firm in Europe.
KHU chairman Resham Bains said representatives from these companies are expected in Nairobi next month to look at the sub-base and make recommendations. After this, one of them will sign a contract with the FIH, KHU and Kenya Government so that work at the facility starts immediately. Astro turf at the stadium waslaid in 1987 specifically for the fourth All Africa Games .
Bains hinted it should take a maximum of three months to lay out the new surface after preliminary work is completed.
"Basically, the builders will advise on the finishing of the sub-base. Some prefer the water to be drained downwards while others prefer the water to be drained from the sides," Bains explained.
The government has pledged Sh4 million with the FIH giving Sh7.3 million. Bains said KHU still have a shortfall of Sh4 million.
Meanwhile Bains confirmed Kenya were still chasing the right to host the Africa Club championships.
Elsewhere, the national women's and men's teams will start training immediately after the first leg of the KHU league ends in April. Kenya are to send two teams to the Africa Cup of Nations championship either in Johannesburg or Pretoria, South Africa from October 1 to 10.
In the meantime Kenya are to host a regional coaching and umpiring course between November 15-18. This is to be conducted by the FIH Development and Coaching Committee.
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Countries invited to send representatives are Seychelles, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.
Meanwhile the FIH Development and Coaching Committee meeting scheduled for November will be in Lausanne. This follows the moving of the FIH secretariat from Brussels, Belgium to Lausanne, Switzerland last May.
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