NAIROBI, Kenya, January 29 – National women’s hockey team captain Lynne Tamunai believes they are more than capable of winning gold at the All Africa Games in Accra, Ghana in March.
Tamunai said the ladies are hungry for success at the continental showpiece and are working hard towards the same.
“We really want to win the All Africa Games. We really want to bring the gold medal back home and that is something we are working hard for. Also, we want to maintain our ranking (2nd) or even up it if possible,” the skipper said.
Kenya boast three bronze medals at the All Africa Games, clinched in 1995 (Harare), 1999 (Johannesburg) and 2003 (Abuja).
Tamunai believes there is much work to do for them to go one better at the Ghanaian capital.
“For us to get into the final and win at least silver, we need to work on our weaknesses. We have been in various tournaments and we got to learn lessons and in those lessons we tend to see what worked and what really didn’t work. What didn’t work, we have to try and perfect on it…try and make sure everything works for us. Ahead of this tournament, we will try correct our weakness while maintaining our strengths,” she said.
Tamunai envisages a ribcracking encounters against their opponents and is looking forward to a potential faceoff with the hosts.
“We are looking forward to every match with the opponents that will be in the pool with us but I am really looking forward to our match against Ghana. That is always a derby for us…come rain, come sunshine…that’s a match that has a lot of energy and a lot of differences,” she said.
Tamunai added: “I believe one thing that will be against us is the home crowd. One thing we are really working on is our mental strength because if we are really stable up there…whatever intimidation, whatever challenges we will be facing in that match, we will be fine. We will be able to conquer whatever will be there.”
The team are currently in non-residential training at City Park Stadium, Nairobi under the keen eye of coach Meshack Senge.
Tamunai described the training as ‘so far, so good,’ noting that they are paying attention to every detail as far as different aspects of their game is concerned.
“We are having different departments…the defence, midfield and forward line working on their own set-ups and trying to perfect on them. I really hope and pray that all will be well before the tournament begins,” she said.
Kenya will be hoping for better fortunes in Accra following their third-place finish at the Paris Olympics qualifiers, last November.
