United States International University - Africa’s (USIU-A) hockey coach, John Kabuu, reckons the institution’s decision to extend its sports scholarship offerings from undergraduate players to include those pursuing postgraduate studies is bearing fruit.
The vastly-improved USIU-A men’s hockey team will make a maiden appearance in Africa Cup for Clubs Championship, at this year’s tournament set for Port Said, Egypt from January 30 to February 7.
For the first time in the club’s history, the USIU- A men’s team finished among the top three in the Kenya Hockey Union Premier League, placing third in December, behind winners Western Jaguars and second-placed former champions Butali Sugar Warriors.
Of the team’s 18 team players, two are on post-graduate scholarships.
Samuel Silong is pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree, while Brian Ongeche studying for a masters degree in journalism. The remaining 15 players in the squad are either pursuing bachelors, diploma or certificate courses.
Kabuu has said the university offers support package to student players in two ways; the work study, and the sport package. Students on the two programmes account for 90 percent of the team.
“Sixty-five percent of the team is on sports scholarship, while 25 per cent of the team is on work study programme. Only 10 per cent of my players are not on scholarship,” said Kabuu.
Work study programme is where players who have already graduated are offered internships at the university in different departments.
Kabuu said that previously, they would lose a player upon his or her graduation, yet it was the university that had moulded and developed the player, whose skills would now benefit another team.
Kabuu said that in 2022 he approached the university’s management to extend the scholarship package, a development he says has seen the teams perform well in the league and get a chance to participate in the club’s championship.
“We can now hold onto our players for at least six years. In the first two to three years, the players are moulded from playing school hockey to university hockey and by the time the player is coming of age, he or she is on the way out. But now we have a window period where we can enjoy the players' services for at least another two or so years. Meaning that there is a smooth transition,” said Kabuu.
Silong was offered a scholarship at USIU-A after finishing his secondary school education at Friends School Kamusinga in 2018.
“Maybe without the scholarship I would not be studying and doing what I love most -- playing hockey. The scholarship was timely. I joined the university in 2019 and graduated in 2023.I had finished my bachelor’s degree and immediately enrolled for a masters degree after I was offered the post-graduate scholarship.
“If all goes well, I will finish my university studies this year in October. It has not been easy juggling between playing and studying but I’m glad I have pulled through,” Silong, who will turn 24 next month, said.
“Offering post-graduate packages was the best thing that the university did. While you continue playing for the university, you also widen your studies. At the same time, they also offer work study programme where students get to learn and work at the university as they continue to play,” he added.
Kabuu, who took over the USIU-A job from Tom Olal in 2016, says he had given the team targets.
“I think it will be too much to ask a team that will be making its debut in the competition to make it to the podium. But I have challenged them to at least reach the semi-final stage,” said the tactician.
