Kenya put in a much improved performance as they narrowly lost 4-3 to Canada in men’s five-a-side hockey at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires on Monday.
The East Africans, who are taking part in the discipline for the first time at the Youth Olympics, got their consolation goals in the dying minutes through Brian Ogenche’s brace and Ian Olando.
Kevin Lugalia’s charges were on the verge of losing their second straight match without a goal in Pool “B” but just when Canada thought they had won with a clean sheet 4-0, Kenya scored three goals in the last three minutes to plant respect on the score line.
Ganga Singh, Isaac Farion and Shazab Butt gave Canada a 3-0 lead at half time after finding the net in the first, fifth and sixth minutes respectively.
Rowan Childs made it 4-0 five minutes after the break before surviving a late scare from Kenyans, who sounded the boards through Ogenche in the 18th minute and again 20th minute seconds after Olando had added the second goal.
The Kenyans face an uphill task against heavyweights India on Tuesday. Lugalia’s charges will then face Austria on Wednesday and complete group stage action against Bangladesh on Thursday. In other matches played on Monday, India hammered Austria 9-1 as Australia was made to sweat before edging out Bangladesh 4-3.
This comes after Kenya suffered a most devastating welcome to the competition for the first time after being humiliated 7-0 by Australia.
India and Australia, who hit Kenya 7-0 last Sunday, lead the group with six points each. India tops the six-team group with a better goal difference having thrashed Bangladesh 10-0 in their opening match. Canada and Austria have three points a piece from one win and a loss. Kenya and Bangladesh occupy positions five and six without a point.
Argentina and Malaysia are placed first and second in Pool ‘A’ with six points each. Argentina hit Vanuatu 18-0 on Monday, a day after seeing off Africa’s other flag-bearer Zambia 6-2. Malaysia whipped Vanuatu 14-0 in their opener before adding Mexico on its list of casualties with a 4-2 victory on Monday.
Zambia registered their first victory after coming from one goal down to floor Poland 4-3. Poland is third on a better goal difference against Zambia. The Poles hit Mexico 6-3 last Sunday.
Kenya hockey team have little hopes of advancing to higher levels after the defeats. Although the coach ,Michael Malungu was optimistic about the team producing a good performance in their debut at the youth olympic and even bag a medal things are not going as expected.
Anthony Kariuki, the head of Kenya’s delegation believes the country will improve on their last show in Nanjing, China in 2014 when Kenya won two gold medals.
The team that is representing Kenya in the youth Olympics was selected from the disciplines that participated in the African Youth Games held in Algiers , Algeria in July.
An illness had earlier locked out Kenyan swimmer Maria Brunlehner from the youths olympic games. National Olympic Committee of Kenya( NOCK) secretary General Francis Mutuku said Brunlehner , who was to fly directly from her base in Germany , was attacked by sickness which barred her from continuing with the competitions.
Brunlehner, who struck two gold medals and a silver at the Africa Youth Games in July , was Kenya’s sole representative in the discipline.
All eyes are know shifting to the athletes who are expected to raise the flag higher as they participate in different races.