The Legend Lives On: Remembering Kisumu hockey icon Parminder Singh “Kake” Saini
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Reading Time: 5min | Wed. 31.12.25. | 20:40
In a landscape yearning for the resurgence of Kenyan hockey on the global scene, his life remains a benchmark for passion, professionalism and purpose
In the annals of Kenyan sport, few names resonate as deeply in hockey as Parminder Singh Saini, affectionately known as Kake.
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A true son of Kisumu, Saini was not just an exceptional athlete; he was a bridge between eras - from Kenya’s golden generation of hockey to its grassroots resurgence.
As the city that has produced one of the largest contingents of hockey Olympians in Kenya, Kisumu finds in Kake both a reflection of past glory and a standard for future hope.
Hockey holds a unique place in Kenya’s sporting history. Long before global football stars captured national headlines, it was hockey that put Kenya on the Olympic map and crowned the nation as Africa’s dominant force on the pitch.
Greats such as Alexinho Mendonca, Saude George, Avtar Singh Sohal, and Surjeet Singh Panesar laid the foundation in the 1960s and 1970s. Yet, among their ranks rose a new generation - one that would carry the national colors through the challenging decades of the 1980s and beyond. Central to that generation was Kake.
Roots of a Hockey Great
Parminder Singh Saini was born on 19, September 1957 in Kisumu, where his earliest affinity for the sport was seeded on dusty school fields.
At Miwani Primary and later Kisumu Boys High School, he distinguished himself as a standout player through to 1976, showcasing both the skill and tenacity that would define his career.
In 1976, Kake travelled to the United Kingdom to further his education at Langley College in Slough, Berkshire. While abroad, he joined Slough Hockey Club, one of England’s most respected teams, where he played in the first team until 1979, gaining exposure to high-level competition and styles that broadened his tactical understanding of the sport.
Upon returning home, he joined Kisumu Simba Union Club - then the pride of Western Kenya hockey and quickly became a linchpin for both club and country.
International Stage and Olympic Valor
Kake’s first international recognition came on 5 September 1981, when he earned his debut cap for Kenya against India in the Six Nations Tournament in Loisano, Italy - a baptism by fire that underscored his readiness for elite competition.
He captained Kenya at the East African Championship in Tanga, Tanzania in 1983 and led through the test series against India later that year, demonstrating leadership that extended beyond athletic excellence to tactical calm under pressure.
His Olympic journey was historic. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Kake represented Kenya with distinction, scoring two goals against Canada and one against the United States as the team secured a competitive ninth-place finish amid fierce global competition. Four years later, he again donned the national jersey at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where Kenya finished 12th - marking the last Olympic appearance for the national side to date.
Beyond the Olympics, Kake featured in key tournaments including the All Africa Games (1987), the Lada Classic Tournament (1988) in England, the Indira Gandhi Memorial events in India, and the Inter-Continent Tournament in Kuala Lumpur in 1990.
Championing Grassroots and Kisumu Hockey
While Kake’s on-field achievements are the bedrock of his legacy, his impact off the pitch was equally profound. A recognized pioneer of grassroots hockey in Kisumu, he co-initiated the Kisumu inter-estates hockey tournament in the 1990s through the Kisumu Simba Club, a platform that drew talent from all social backgrounds and nurtured future stars who would go on to challenge established teams throughout Kenya.
His unwavering commitment helped spotlight neighborhood talents like Emmanuel Oduol, Steve Otieno, Eric Odingo, Tom Tipo, and others, fostering a new generation of players and embedding hockey deeper into the community fabric.
Many players from these grassroots programs progressed into club and national structures, elevating the sport’s visibility in a region already renowned for producing Olympic-level athletes.
Legacy Beyond Playing
After hanging up his boots in 1993 following his final international match against Zimbabwe, Kake seamlessly transitioned to leadership and mentorship roles.
He coached Kisumu Simba Union, served as Manager of the Kenyan national team at the 1999 All Africa Games in South Africa, and remained heavily involved in governance and strategy. From 2014 to 2015 he was vice chairman of the Kenya Hockey Union and continued as a technical advisor until his passing.
His contributions extended beyond tactics and training sessions; he was regarded as a mentor and father figure to many, shaping not just players’ skills but also their outlook on sport and life.
The Final Bow
Parminder Singh “Kake” Saini passed away on 30 May 2021 in Kisumu after a short illness at the age of 63, the city, nation and hockey fraternity reeling from the loss of an icon. His passing was marked with solemn tributes, including a minute’s silence during Kisumu’s Madaraka Day celebrations - a testament to his place in Kenya’s collective sporting heart.
Kisumu’s hockey fields, from school turfs to neighborhood estates, bear silent witness to the impact of a player who carried his city onto the world stage and brought the world’s finest into the local imagination.
Remembering a Legend
Kake will be remembered not only for the goals he scored or the matches he captained but for his ceaseless dedication to the development of hockey in Western Kenya and the mentorship of countless players who followed in his footsteps. In a landscape yearning for the resurgence of Kenyan hockey on the global scene, his life remains a benchmark for passion, professionalism and purpose.
Parminder Singh ‘Kake’ Saini embodied the spirit of Kenyan sport: resilient, visionary, and rooted in community. His legacy lives on in every young hockey player that dreams of Olympic glory and every pitch in Kisumu where the sport continues to thrive.
