Kenya secures 7th place with thrilling victory in FIH Hockey 5s World Cup

In a remarkable conclusion to their campaign at the inaugural FIH Hockey 5s World Cup in Muscat, Oman, the Kenya Hockey 5s men's national team secured a commendable seventh position, sealing their journey with a thrilling 7-5 victory against Trinidad & Tobago.

The match witnessed a scoring duel between the two sides. Marcano Teague of Trinidad & Tobago set the tone with an early goal in the second minute. Kenya swiftly responded as Danstone Wabwire leveled the scores in the 5th minute. Bethuel Masambu then took center stage, doubling Kenya's scores a minute later and completing a sensational hattrick with goals in the 19th and 27th minutes. Despite Toussaint Akim's hattrick efforts for Trinidad & Tobago, they struggled to match the scoring prowess of the Kenyan side. Moses Ademba, with a brace, and Ivan Ludiali, scoring a crucial goal, played pivotal roles in securing the 7-5 win.

Speaking to Kevin Lugalia the assistant coach after the conclusion of Kenya's journey in the FIH Hockey 5s World Cup, he expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, emphasizing that they exceeded expectations. "The opportunity to compete with top teams on the global stage provided invaluable lessons, particularly regarding strategic conditioning,"said Lugalia. He acknowledged the need to work on this aspect upon returning home, aiming to elevate Kenya's competitive edge in future tournaments.

A standout feature for Lugalia was the remarkable teamwork displayed by the players. He praised the cohesive bond within the team, noting that their teamwork resembled a well-oiled machine. Highlighting the advantages of having players who have played together for an extended period, he envisioned the potential for even stronger team dynamics in future international competitions. What stood out for me among the players is the teamwork. "We did well as a team, they have bonded well together and that is something nice. The team has players who have played together for a while and it works like a well oiled machine and I think if we can keep a team for a while that would really be something to look forward to and working with when going for future international competitions," he said.

While celebrating the team's overall performance, Lugalia identified scoring efficiency as an area of concern. Despite creating numerous chances, the team struggled to convert opportunities into goals. Recognizing this challenge, he emphasized the coaching staff's commitment to addressing scoring efficiency moving forward. In the fast-paced dynamics of hockey 5s, where goal margins are crucial, he stressed the importance of capitalizing on scoring opportunities to enhance overall performance.

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Looking ahead, Lugalia outlined key focus areas for the coaching staff, including enhancing scoring capabilities, building on the strong team bond, and improving overall efficiency. "I belive the coaching stuff needs to work on scoring because it has been an area of concern because the team has been creating so many chances but they have not just been scoring but I believe with time we can create chances and then convert. So moving forward we need to work on this as the coaching staff because when you've seen the hockey 5s you can see the goal margins that you'll definitely be scored so it's a matter of making sure you score so many goals. We need to work on efficiency, and build on the bond, the teamwork and once they're together we can have better performance."

Ludiali the team's captain expressed satisfaction with the team's progression, noting a consistent upward improvement in their performance. He highlighted the team's improvement from the first game, attributing their success to a collective commitment to betterment. "The Team has been improving straight from the first game, so the journey has been good. The key defining moments for the team came early in the pool matches where we had to push through Australia to qualify for the quarters and that to me showed great character," said Ludiali.

Ludiali expressed the transformative shift in the players' mindset, a change brought about by facing formidable opponents on the global stage. Battling against the giants of hockey, the team experienced the level of commitment and skill required to compete at the highest levels of the sport. Ludiali believes this exposure has been instrumental in altering the players' perspectives, providing valuable insights into the requirements for success at the top level.

The team's impressive performance leaves a positive mark, setting the stage for continued progress in future competitions. They are expected to arrive back home today.