Prolific Wakhura salivating for continental hockey title

Experienced Kenyan Hockey national men's team captain Constance Wakhura has his eyes fixed on lifting the Africa Cup of Nations title set to kick off next week in Ghana.

The men's team that is under the tutelage of Fidelis Kimanzi is placed in pool A alongside the 2017 champions South Africa and Namibia while the Jackline Mwangi's coached women's side is in pool B that also has Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia.

Despite the prolonged wait for the return of the local league, Wakhura revealed that the national team had been training for more than six months and will return to the continental showpiece eager to bring glory home.

The local competition that is penciled to come back to life next month was halted in March 2020 after the first case of coronavirus was reported in the country.Kenya will make way back to the tournament after almost four years in the cold.

"We have had ample time to prepare for the tournament and I believe we will sail past the semifinals and even win the Cup. It will be refreshing to return to the big stage and leave with the winners medal," said the defender. 

Wakhura who will be making his ninth appearance at the continental stage said the team is brimming in confidence and the chemistry between the players was quite something.

Meanwhile, the Union's president Nashon Randiek confirmed that the teams' departure and participation in the tournament was at the mercy of the Ministry of Sports but remained confident that all will go according to the script.

Randiek is understood to have spend the better part of Tuesday knocking on the sports fund doors.

"We are still waiting for the ministry to avail funds for the tournament. It is our hope that the money will hit our accounts soon. Until, then I can not authoritatively state the day when the two teams will hit the runaway," he said.