NAIROBI, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will enter two hockey teams - boys' and girls' - in the Africa Youth Games, hoping to build on the country's success in continental games.
Wycliffe Ongori, the Kenya Hockey Union Secretary General, said Kenya has a vibrant youth structure, which targets to expose the best talents off the secondary school.
He believes, hockey will join track and field, rugby and volleyball to increase Kenya's medal haul in the games. This year's Africa Youth Games will be held in Algiers, Algeria from July 19-28.
"We are still preparing the teams and soon they will be ready for the task. We will enter boys' and girls' teams hoping they will fight for a podium finish," Ongori said here on Tuesday.
He said training is ongoing at three different centers and the teams will converge in Nairobi in the last week to the games for final polishing.
The girls' camp is based in Bungoma at St. Cecelia misikhu High school led by veteran player turned coach glennis namasake. Kakamega County hosts the boys' camp based at Musingu High School under Michael Malungu while the third camp is at Nairobi City Park Stadium supervised by Kenya Hockey Union chairman Nashon Randiek.
"The players are aware of what is expected from them and we can only hope for the best going forward," said Namasake. The final team will be selected on June 16 in Nairobi.
"We settled on the two schools because of their massive talents in the regions. Training is conducted daily before going for the national trials on June 16," said Ongori.
"Hockey sport will feature a five-side tourney and we need fast and strong players who have endurance to last the challenge."
Winners and first runners-up from the African Youth Games will secure automatic qualification to the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October.
