The national men's and women's squads for the upcoming 'African Hockey Road to 2024 Paris Olympic qualifiers have been narrowed down to 25 players each.
This comes after a rigorous four-month selection process conducted in Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Kakamega.
In the men's category, the team comprises five forwards, nine midfielders, eight defenders, and three goalkeepers. Meanwhile, in the women's category, the team comprises seven forwards, seven midfielders, eight defenders, and three goalkeepers.
The players are currently undergoing intensive preparations for the crucial qualifiers set to take place in Pretoria, South Africa, from October 29 to November 5.
The teams are on a non-residential training camp, awaiting government approval to transition to a residential camp for more focused preparations.
Prior to the qualifiers, the teams will be further trimmed to the final 18 players in each of the two cadres.
Leading the charge for the men's team will be Fidhelis Kimanzi as the head coach and Micheal Malungu as the assistant head coach, while Meshak Senge will be the head coach and Rose Mbulo his assistant in the women's team.
Senge emphasized the importance of commitment and a positive attitude from the players as they move forward with the selection process.
“We aim to elevate the team to a higher level through comprehensive planning and selecting the final 18 players based on build-up matches. We expect unwavering commitment, strong desire, and dedication from the players we choose,” said Senge.
“Since this will be a new team with different players from the ones in last year, we will take what works structurally, build on the negatives so that we are ready for the tournament,” he added.
The tournament's opening matches will see the men's team facing Egypt, while the women's team will be up against Zambia.
Carole Okoth will be the chief medical officer while Rebecca Kaumba and Micheal Mwanyamba will serve as physiotherapists for the team.
