Fidelis Kimanzi and Jackline Mwangi have been named as the national team coaches ahead of North Eastern Region qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Nairobi.
Today, the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) announced that the duo will take care of men and women teams for the tournament set for May 11 to 17 at the Sikh Union Hockey Stadium.
Kimanzi, who led Wazalendo men’s team to a second finish in the Premier League last season behind winners Butali Sugar Warriors, will be assisted by Western Jaguars coach Mike Malungu.
Mwangi, a prolific striker with women’s Premier League champions Blazers, formerly Telkom, and an International Hockey Federation Athletes Committee member, will be assisted by teammates Barbara Simiyu and Glenis Namasake.
Kimanzi takes over from Meshack Senge, while Mwangi replaces Tom Olal, who were in charge of the two teams during the last year’s 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Africa qualifiers in Cape Town, where the sides failed to sparkle
The men’s team finished fifth in the six-nation tournament that saw hosts South
The men’s team will face Burundi, Libya, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Seychelles, where the top two nations will proceed to the next year’s Cup of Nations.
The ladies will battle favourites Egypt, Burundi, Libya, Seychelles, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda for the two slots.
Source: daily Nation