Kilanga outlines insights gained after a successful Ice Hockey tourney

Howi Cheetahs lifted the title as the Friendship Ice Hockey League that was hosted at the Panari Hotel in Nairobi came to a close on Saturday 7 January afternoon. 

The team consisting of players from Canada and United States who had visited the country for a four-day tournament were too experienced for the Kenyan national team Ice Lions as the match ended 9-4 in favour of the visitors. 

Despite the loss, Federation of Ice Sports first vice president Ali Kilanga says the visit by these players and the tournament has helped the Kenyan team get some quality competition ahead of a busy 2023 season. 

"It has been an amazing week of action at the Panari Hotel rink as the Kenyan players and teams got the chance to play many matches against very good players. Such opportunities help the players develop their skill levels and improve the game as a whole in the country," offered Kilanga who is also one of the founders of the sport that has had its federation registered late last year. 

Ali Kilanga

With only one rink in East and Central Africa, the Panari Hotel facility, getting playtime has not been easy for the players that have taken up this sport full time. 

Additionally, only two teams have been formed locally and that narrows the amount of action and opposition as the two teams train alongside each other and can only have each other for opponents. 

"Being back in action after almost three years out due to Covid-19 felt good and we are happy that we have friends who were willing to help us bounce back by coming to Kenya to play against the Kenyan teams. 

We had experienced players who are born in countries where ice hockey is very popular and have played at very high level so they are better and they shared alot with us. They also made donations in equipment that will help in nurturing more talents," Kilanga added. 

As the year begins on a high, the ice hockey official is confident they will build on this ahead of a busy season that has the federation preparing teams for three major championship. 

"Our biggest agenda is to develop the sport and now that we are back on the ice, we have a chance to pick from where we left when our activities were disrupted. The players we were nurturing in 2019 and 2020 before the closure are now two or three years older and have a better understanding and communication as we teach them. 

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This has seen a fast growth in our pool and we are hoping to do more this year and perform better in any competitions we participate in," Kilanga who says having a federation that can now work with other sports stakeholders like the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) and the ministry of Sports will go a long way in helping their cause.