Field Hockey that was once the most successful sport in Kenya has now unbelievably depreciated.
Despite the presence of a national federation-the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU), players of the country’s top leagues have nothing to smile about.
As is the rule and the expectation of any sports genres, talented individuals always aspire to play for clubs in order to earn a living. In order to be able to take care of themselves and those of their families. In order to make some money.
That’s what happens, for instance, in Kenyan football, volleyball, athletics and any other sports where players feature to earn a living.
But things are very different in Kenya’s hockey. Apart from Butali, who have sponsors, and Telkom, who parted ways with their long-time sponsors this year, the other clubs are simply struggling!
Against the norm of sports and hockey, the players are forced to cater for all their needs and go the extra mile of paying for the facilities they use. There’s no salary at all!
Interestingly, they’re also forced to pay gate charges in order to watch their own league matches-just like fans. And there’s no prize money for premier league winners. Terrible!
Men Premier League clubs include Waza, Police, Sharks, Jaguars, USIU, Sailors, Strath, Sikh, Parklands, and Butali.
Women Premier League clubs are; Blazers, USIU, Strathmore, Sailors, Lakers, Sliders, KU, and JKUAT.
So far, Butali are leading the men’s log as Blazers lead the women league. Sikh and Parklands are the bottom of the men’s table as KU and JKUAT lag behind in the women’s category.