Hockey Union rolls out plan to cushion vulnerable players as Covid-19 bites

The Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) has begun the process of cushioning needy hockey players in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an event held Tuesday at the City Park stadium, KHU handed over food donations to the identified needy players.

The food package included maize flour, green grams, salt, cooking oil among other foodstuffs.

KHU president Nahashion Randiek said they have identified vulnerable players to benefit from the program with some 100 players benefiting from the first batch of the relief aid.

“We know what is happening in the country and it is not peculiar to hockey players but we are targeting only the needy players whom we have already identified. This was the first batch where we have about 100 players and we will be reaching out to others in the coming days,” Randiek told Citizen Digital.

Randiek explained that the donations were availed by various corporates and well-wishers and at the same time he urged other well-wishers to come on board and support the program.

“We already have some well-wishers who have come on board to support us and what we are interested in actually is the donations, especially food stuffs, we are not targeting any amount of money.

With all the hockey leagues in the country put on hold, Randiek observed that like any other sport, hockey had been adversely affected by the pandemic.

“We are still adhering to the ministry’s directives and thus we can’t carry on with our normal activities but I would encourage hockey players to continue following government’s directives as well as the Africa Hockey Federation (AHF) and International Hockey Federation,” he said.

Similarly, Randiek welcomes the move by AHF to postpone Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers where Kenya was set to host the North-East region qualifiers that were slated for May 11-17.

The region comprises eight countries including; Egypt, Burundi, Libya, Seychelles, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.

“I think it was the ideal move because this is a pandemic which is affecting the whole world,” the KHU chief lamented.