By Cally Imbai
Hockey has been described as a combination of blood, sweat and beauty. More than any other sporting activity, it is a game of motion: even when the referee whistles for an action to stop, the momentum keeps flowing.
In Kenya, not many schools have embraced the virtue of nurturing hockey players like in the case of football and other extra-curricular activities.
There are many reasons why hockey appeals to a wide variety of people. For some, it is the pure excitement of the sporting regalia and the speed with which the players move around with their sticks whereas for others it’s just the appearance of the players and the wilding of the sticks as they cut through the innocent air.
And for others, it is the pursuit of competition and challenge, or even the love of being around a team.
However there is no presence of any hockey academies in Western, Nyanza and Rift Valley regions. Yet these regions have produced men and women who have appeared on the national and international platforms in hockey championships.
Which is why one young hockey coach, lover and enthusiast of the game one Anderson Musungu was triggered to start a hockey Academy right in the remote village where raw talent can be tapped, hence the birth of ‘Buchifi Hockey Academy’ in Mumias West Constituency, Kakamega County.
The academy has an enrolment of 30 players who are all under the age of 12 years.
“I came up with the idea of the academy with two reasons: one, to pass my skills and experiences to the children in a practical way, and two, to enable the children in the academy to get sponsorships to various secondary schools as a result of their dexterity and mastery in playing hockey. They say your talent will always give you a place.” The young Musungu stated 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, most of which can be rated as less fortunate. I saw it wise and supportive to bring them together through this hockey academy, nurture their skills with the hope that they will get sponsorships and or scholarships to various secondary schools that not only value education but sports as well, within Kakamega County and even beyond.” 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 practicing with.
Musungu who is also a graphic designer stated that the progenies have formed small teams within the academy for purposes of competition.
“We train during the weekends, as most of these children are primary school day scholars in the nearby local schools and after every training, we carry out mentorship sessions with the children, through which 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 being very handy in nurturing the talents of very many youngsters over the years.
“Besides being an academic powerhouse, Kakamega High school is among a 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.
