300 Players, 17 Teams: Nairobi's Community Hockey Tournament

What Happened

On 6 September 2026, Path to Russia and Ed's Hockey Academy brought together more than 300 players and 17 teams at Lenana School in Dagoretti, Nairobi, for a day of 8-a-side community field hockey. Twelve men's teams — including Gorillas, Avengers, TGG, Brooks, Kookaburra, Goons, Lenana, Thracians, SIMAH, Wang'du, Cola War and Guza Toka — competed alongside five ladies' and junior sides: ATA, Ed's Hockey Ladies, Ed's Hockey U13s, Breadlings U13s and Team Sherehe.

The tournament paired competition with youth engagement, mentorship and talent development, giving grassroots players — men, women and U13 juniors — a structured, visible platform to compete and be seen.

A Partnership Behind the Pitch

Path to Russia organised the tournament with Ed's Hockey Academy as core delivery partner, handling technical delivery, hockey mobilisation and athlete development. The Kenya Hockey Union lent institutional support and national linkage, New Formation backed the day as supporting sponsor, and Lenana School hosted.

Distinguished Guests

Kenya Hockey Union Deputy Secretary General Catherine Mulwa and Treasurer Godfrey Billa attended, connecting the grassroots turnout to the sport's national structure and encouraging players on the day.

Results

SIMAH took the men's title, beating Thracians 2–0 in the final. In the ladies' final, Team Sherehe and Ed's played out a goalless draw before Team Sherehe won 2–1 on penalties to take the championship.

Why It Matters

The tournament gave more than 300 players — including U13 juniors and a strong turnout of women's teams — a safe, structured setting to compete, build discipline and teamwork, and be seen by coaches and Kenya Hockey Union representatives. Media coverage across news outlets, TV and social platforms in the days after framed the event as part of a wider story: sport opening doors to education, mentorship and opportunity for Nairobi's youth, including a pathway toward international exposure.

For Path to Russia, the tournament extends its use of sport as a bridge to opportunity — alongside its work in football, chess, education and language programmes — while surfacing the practical barriers, from equipment costs to transport for girls, that partners and sponsors can help address as the tournament grows into a recurring fixture.