Kenyan Blades cut Zambian girls to kick off bid for Olympic Games ticket positively

The national women’s hockey team, the Blades, launched their bid to seal a ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with a convincing 4-0 win over Zambia in a group B qualifier match played in Pretoria on Sunday.

Experienced defender Flavian Mutiva sounded the board twice from short corners to inspire Kenya to a positive start in the qualifiers.

Lucy Wangeci and Maureen Okumu were also on target in the game that saw Kenya score three of the four goals from the nine-penalty corner’s awarded.

Mutiva, who was named the woman of the match, conceded that the team had spent considerable time polishing the art of converting from short corners.

“We had trained for it,” she admitted.

The Blazers defender said the win had set the tune for their bid to punch the available ticket to the Games.

“It was important for us to start on a positive note. We want to go to Paris; we can do it,” she asserted.

Her sentiments were backed by skipper Lyne Tamunai, who hailed her teammates for the spirited show they put in game one.

"I am happy and proud of the team. We definitely want to be Paris, “she said.

While there were smiles on the faces of the Kenyan girls who faced the media shortly after the game, the same couldn’t be spotted on Zambian skipper Annie Mvula who admitted there was work to be done before their duel tomorrow against Namibia.

“We started well but crumbled thereafter. We have to fix areas before playing Namibia tomorrow,” she claimed.

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Kenya is placed in pool B of the qualifiers alongside Zambia, Ghana, and Namibia, with South Africa, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe being placed in pool A.

The best teams in either pool will advance to the semis. The winner of the qualifiers will run away with the available ticket to Paris.

Kenya will play Ghana on Monday.

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Meanwhile, the men’s team fell 2-0 to Egypt in their opening match.

Kenyan skipper Constant Wakhura regretted that the missed chances cost the team points against the Egyptians.

“We had a decent game, but unfortunately, we didn’t utilize our chances. The loss doesn’t mean that we don’t have a chance to qualify,” said the Butali Warriors defender.

The Kenyan men have previously qualified for the Olympic Games four times.