Kenya Ice Lions ready for Jamhuri Cup

In its third edition, this year's annual Ice Hockey Jamhuri Cup has attracted global attention after Kenya joined the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) earlier in the year. 

Kenya Ice Lions captained by the experienced Benjamin Mburu will play Team World on Thursday 12 December from 9:30 AM at the Panari rink. 

Head coach Tim Colby says this year's event will be an exciting one and he expects the match to be close given his side's preparations and the strides Kenya has taken in growing the game in 2024. 

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"Preparations have been good and we expect a good show from both sides. We have a few new players in the squad and so does Team World who have several international talents who recently moved to Kenya and will be making their debut in the Jamhuri Cup," the tactician revealed in an interview with Mozzart Sport. 

Colby says next week's event is a good opportunity for his side to gauge themselves against international opposition as the country prepares to play in the inaugural Africa Ice Hockey tournament set for June 2025 in South Africa.

"The interest that this year's event has created both locally and internationally gives me confidence that we will get more players to join the sport.

What's more, we expect more support for the team ahead of the continental competition where we will play against more established sides," Colby continued. 

Ice hockey in Kenya began in 2006 when a group of Canadians brought equipment to play at Panari, the only ice rink in East and Central Africa.

Growth was slow until interest surged after the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, partly due to media coverage and a viral video sponsored by Alibaba.

Further attention came when the Ice Lions travelled to Canada, sponsored by Tim Hortons, which produced the video "The Away Game." This video, along with an extended version, has received over two million views globally.

The country is the only sub-Saharan African country besides South Africa to have an ice rink, and it became the fifth African nation—alongside Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, and Tunisia—to join the IIHF.

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"This year's event will receive coverage both locally and globally and this interest continues to put us on the world map.

We have received global support, including donations through GoFundMe and other sponsorships and we expect more with the kind of exposure we are receiving.

This will go a long way in helping us grow the sport in Kenya, especially running our youth programs that continue to expand our reach in the country," the tactician added. 

Kenya Ice Lions line up

- Benjamin Mburu, Captain 

- ⁠Dennis Lumumba, Alternate Captain 

- ⁠Mike Otieno, Alternate Captain 

- ⁠Abdulwahab Ngamate

- ⁠Arnold Mburu;

- ⁠Trevor Mwangi;

- ⁠Hassan Shah;

- ⁠Hussnein Shah;

- ⁠Alex Mureithi;

- ⁠Charles Tumba, Goaltender