It’s best identified for its world class long-distance runners however now Kenya has a brand new Olympic self-discipline in its sights – ice hockey.
Just like the Jamaican bobsled workforce made well-known within the 1993 movie Cool Runnings, Kenya’s first nationwide ice hockey workforce are usually not letting their nation’s lack of snow or ice – and even actually chilly climate – get in the way in which of their Winter Olympic dream.
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That is regardless of there being just one ice rink within the nation – actually, in all of central and east Africa – and the very fact they should import all their skates and different tools, at nice price.
The Kenya Ice Lions hope to someday compete at a winter Olympics – an enormous name for a nation dominated by savannahs, not snowfields.
However just like the groundbreaking Caribbean bobsledders who debuted on the 1988 Winter Olympics, the Kenyans are eager to make their mark in unfamiliar sporting territory.
The Kenya Ice Lions had been born when now-captain Ben Mburu took his love of avenue hockey onto the ice when the Panari Lodge in Nairobi constructed an ice rink.
At that time, there was no workforce – just a few locals having an informal hit round and who requested Mburu to affix them.
“Sooner or later, the fellows who had been taking part in ice hockey referred to as me as much as the ice rink and informed me to come back to attempt,” he stated.
“Since then, I’ve by no means seemed again. I fell in love with the game and I like every second of taking part in ice hockey.”
Mburu taught himself the finer factors of the sport utilizing the web, gathered a workforce collectively and located a coach.
And he named the workforce.
Whereas Kenya just isn’t (but) identified for ice hockey, as one of many world’s prime safari areas it’s actually identified for its lions.
Mburu hopes the workforce’s on-ice efficiency can channel the fierceness of the king of the jungle.
“The title of our workforce, The Kenya Ice Lions, originated from the well-known lions of Africa and Kenya so it was a simple adaptation …. we now have the lions and we need to roar,” Mburu informed euronews.
The Kenya Ice Lions performed their first sport in March 2019 in opposition to a bunch of worldwide gamers flown over by the UN for a charity match.
Canadian expat Tim Colby was satisfied to teach the aspect after seeing how excited the women and men had been to study the sport.
“Kenya is on the equator, it is a tropical nation … however that simply exhibits the keenness of the Kenyan gamers,” Colby informed euronews.
“The game has a future right here. There’s nice potential in any respect ranges.
“On the grownup degree, the gamers have actually shocked folks. Some North American (gamers) who’ve come listed here are very shocked with the talent degree.”
Other than a single ice rink, one of many different hurdles the workforce faces is the big quantity of apparatus required to play the game safely – and which they can not purchase domestically.
“Ice hockey could be harmful and gamers should put on in depth protecting tools … you want helmets, cages to guard the face and physique armor,” Colby stated.
Mburu says it’s only by means of generosity that the workforce are capable of play the sport they love.
“Skates can price a whole lot of {dollars} and transport can be very troublesome,” he stated.
“We largely rely upon donations, however it’s nonetheless quite a bit to ship it into the nation.”
Whereas Kenya is presently not a member of the Worldwide Ice Hockey Federation, the game has gone from energy to energy and nationwide gamers have massive goals.
Kenya Ice Lions participant Hassan Ali Shah says he needs to “symbolize the Kenyan flag”.
“I need to see the Kenya Ice Lions taking part in with different international locations in Africa, I need to see us going to the Olympics… I shall be so proud,” Hassan stated.
“For the children, I shall be proud and completely happy to see them drafted to the NHL. That is one thing that I consider. It is one thing that the majority of us need to see occurring.”
