The planned All African Nations’ Cup for the game of hockey in both male and female categories is one of the casualties that has fallen to the terrorist siege that traumatized Kenya and indeed the world at the Westgate Shopping mall in Nairobi.
The event which was scheduled to begin this week had to be postponed as a result of the tragedy that accompanied the actions of the Al Shabaab terrorists. The African Hockey Federation (AfHF) was thus left with no option but to postpone the competition to allow the nation and all those even remotely affected mourn their losses just as Kenya started a three-day national mourning for the victims.
The attack which left at least 67 people dead and a further 175 injured spanned four days before the the horrible saga came to an end.
Despite the Kenyan Government’s statement that the attackers were defeated, the AfHF decided to postpone the continental hockey tournament, which offers qualification to the 2014 Hockey World Cup. ”On behalf of the AfHF, I offer our apologies to all who have worked tirelessly towards this tournament,” AfHF honorary secretary general Nii Quaye-Kumah said. ”I thank you all for your patience and support during this difficult time and we also encourage National Associations to spare a thought for our brothers and sisters in Kenya (Kenyan Hockey Union) and to reach out and console them on the loss of lives.” A new date for the tournament is expected to be announced in the near future. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) also expressed “its deepest sympathies to the people of Nairobi and everyone who has been affected by this tragedy”.
