KHU SG Ongori hails Chuo after Hockey5s WC qualification

Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Secretary General Wyclife Ongori has applauded the national men’s five-a-side hockey team after qualifying for the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey5s 2024 World Cup.

Kenya defeated Zambia 5-2 in the African bronze playoffs to secure the continent’s third slot for the inaugural World Cup that will be held in Oman.

Ongori said organizing five-a-side hockey tournaments in the country would be near impossible because of the lack of standard hockey pitches.

“As a federation, we are unable to self-facilitate, we depend on the government. We present our budget to the government when we are required to do so. It’s not the federation that delayed the travelling but the state takes every situation at its pace,” he elaborated further.

Chui will join African champions Egypt and runners-up Nigeria as the continent’s men representauves while Namibia, Zambia and South Africa women’s teams also qualified.

The Kenyan women’s team, Blades, did not advance to medal matches after finishing bottom of the standings.

African Hockey Federation (AfHF) had selected six nations; hosts Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria and Namibia for the qualifying games.

This inaugural FIH Hockey5s World Cup will set up a pinnacle tournament in the Hockey5s format that will run as a quadrennial event.

Apart from the hosts Oman, there will be 3 teams each from Africa, Asia, Europe, Pan America and Oceania.