Blades to face either Ghana or Bangladesh in Commonwealth test matches

The Kenya Hockey Union intends to send the women's national team, Blades either to Ghana or Bangladesh to test their preparedness for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Blades booked a ticket to the Games set for Birmingham, England between July 28 to August 8 after scooping bronze in the Africa Cup of Nations held in February in Ghana.

With the Games just months away, the Union is not taking chances as they have teams and doing the last minute rush to have the team ready as they have countries at the back of the mind whom they believe will give a test of what awaits Blades in Birmingham. 

However, the Union's President Nashon Randiek insists that Blades will only have a taste of international friendlies if the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) will meet their approximated twenty million budget. 

"We will play either Ghana or Bangladesh in test matches if we get the funds we have requested from NOC-K. When you're preparing for such kind of assignments, you need international test matches for the purposes of exposure," he said. 

Speaking while unveiling the team's technical and support personnel, Randiek revealed that 46 players had been selected to jostle for slots in the final team that will be named on June 15. 

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The federation chief further disclosed that the team had been training four times a week and will look to report to a residential training camp three months to the naming of the traveling team that will be comprised of 18 players. 

"We have forwarded the provisional squad to the Committee and we expect the technical bench to wither it down periodically. We have also recommended names of the support and technical staff to the committee and it is upon them to call the shots on who will travel with the team especially on the support personnel," he said. 

"If the Committee avails the funds we have requested, we intend to increase the training sessions and book the team in residential training three months to the naming of the final squad," he added. 

Meanwhile, Michael Malungu one of the assistant to coach Jacqueline Mwangi feels that the Games will give the Kenyan girls exposure and lay a solid foundation for a a triumph in the 2023 All Africa Games. 

" We have set ourselves a realistic chance in the Games considering that we are a team that is in the transition phase. The exposure the players will gain from it will help us be competitive at all levels in future," said the Western Jaguars boss who doubles up as the Junior team coach. 

His sentiments were echoed by Meshack Senge who has been tasked with video analysis and statistics. The former men's national team gaffer said the Birmingham Fiesta will help Kenya improve on the global rankings. 

Technical Team

Manjit Singh Jhite -Director Coaching

Glennis Namasaka - Team Manager

Jacqueline Mwangi - Head coach

Barbra Simiyu - Assistant Coach

Michael Malungu - Coach

Meshack Senge -Video Analyst / Statistician

Joseph Osino - Goalkeepers' coach

Support Team

Elynah Shiveka - Chaperone

Nashon Randiek - Technical Official

Caroline Okoth - Doctor

Rebecca Mueni -Physiotherapist

Vincent Muriiki - Physiotherapist

Cyrus Kani - Strength and Conditioning Coach