By Cally Imbai
Hockey has been described as a combination of blood, sweat and beauty. More than any other sport, it’s a game of motion, hence the momentum of the game keeps flowing even when the referee whistles for an action to stop.
There are many reasons why hockey appeals to many people. For some, it’s the pure excitement of the sporting regalia and the speed with which players move around with their sticks. For others, it’s just the appearance of the players and the wilding of the sticks as they cut through the innocent air.
For others, it’s the pursuit of competition and challenge or even the love of being around a team.
In Kenya, not many schools nurture hockey players like football players are nurtured. Worse still, in Western, Nyanza and Rift Valley regions, there were no hockey academies yet the regions have produced men and women who have appeared on national and international platforms in hockey championships.
The lack of no hockey academies in the above mentioned regions is what pushed Anderson Musungu to start a hockey academy in Mumias West constituency, Kakamega County.
The hockey coach, lover and enthusiast of the game started Buchifi Hockey Academy, which currently has an enrolment of 30 players who are all under 12 years.
‘I started the academy because of two reasons. The first was to pass my skills and experiences to the children in a practical way and the second reason was to enable the children in the academy to get scholarships to various secondary schools as a result of their dexterity and mastery of playing hockey. It is said that one will get to places because of their talent,’ Musungu said in an interview with Education News.
He added that the academy is designed to help the youngsters to improve their overall performance and enhance their understanding of the sport.
“These children come from very humble families. Through the hockey academy, I can bring together these children and nurture their skills with the hope that they will get sponsorships and or scholarships to various secondary schools, within and beyond Kakamega county. It is also my hope that the schools they join will not only value education but sports as well.” He said.
He added that courtesy of well-wishers, players in the academy are able to get training kits with hockey sticks and balls for practice.
Musungu, who is also a graphic designer, stated that the children at the academy have formed small teams amongst themselves for purposes of competition.
“We train during the weekends, as most of these children are primary school day scholars from nearby local schools. After every training, we carry out mentorship sessions with the children. Through the sessions, we instill moral values in them and help them learn how well they can relate with other people in the society.” The coach revealed
He opened up that his dream is to build a full hockey facility with the help of well-wishers , the academy graduates and any organization that may deem fit to support the sport.
He lauded Kakamega high school for coming in handy to nurture the talents of youngsters over the years.
“Besides being an academic powerhouse, Kakamega High school is among the few schools in the larger Western region that have heavily invested in sporting activities. Many talented students have in the recent past received scholarships to study in the school, courtesy of their prowess in different sports.” Musungu said.
