Kenya Ice Sports Federation petitions government for a standard rink

Panari Hotel hosts the only rink in East and Central Africa, a facility that hosts all the ice sports in the country from Ice Hockey to Curling. 

As ice sports are on a steady growth in Kenya and East Africa, Ice Sport federation has called on the government to consider the construction of a full- size rink that will compliment the Panari facility and give youngsters who are taking up ice hockey the right facilities to train and compete in. 

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Not only is the Panari rink the only facility that has to serve a huge population, it is not up to standard with the federation's first vice president Ali Kilanga confirming that it is a third of the standard size rink. 

The facility is also open to the public meaning that the players have to plan for their training sessions with that in mind. Training is scheduled for Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings. 

"We are used to playing here. It is a great facility. The problem, however, comes when we have to go play elsewhere as we struggle. Our rink is a third of the standard (Olympic size) facility we should be practising and competing in.

As the sport is growing, this is one of the areas we would really want to see the government hold our hand in. Having another rink will compliment what Panari offers and give us the right training ahead of competitions," Kilanga implored. 

His sentiments were echoed by national team, Ice Lions', skipper Benjamin Mburu who admitted that competing internationally is that much difficult after training in a much smaller rink but exuded confidence in the government partnering with the newly-registered federation to get all the right facilities and equipment. 

After a successful Howi Friendship League Tournament that concluded on Saturday 7 January at the Panari facility, the federation is looking forward to a busy year of growth. 

"In 2019 we had a full-year calendar of activities and we go back to that after a successful Howi Friendship League Tournament. 

In June we have Madaraka Cup while in we are set to host an age-group competition involving young players from Detroit. We are working closely with the Roller Sport Federation to grow the sport across the country before we move these players to the rink," Kilanga added. 

Kenya has only two teams but the federation officials are hoping to get more players join the sport and have more teams for a vibrant local calendar.