Robert Masibo and Willis Okeyo, both players from Kenya Police, left the country for Germany on Sunday morning for a one-month professional stint.
Okeyo, a midfielder, is set to rejoin VfB Stuttgart, while defender Masibo, son of Blazers’ long-serving defender Terry Juma and former Kenyan international Fredrick Masibo, will be joining the Hebron hockey team.
VfB Stuttgart plays in the Regional Liga, which is the fourth-highest level, while Hebron competes in the inter-varsity conferences.
The duo played in Kenya Police’s opening two matches of this season’s Kenya Hockey Union men’s Premier League.
They managed a 1-1 draw against Wazalendo Hockey Club and forced a 2-1 win over Greensharks. Police are set to play Sailors on Sunday evening and will face national champions Butali Sugar Warriors next Sunday at the City Park.
Patrick Mugambi, the coach of Police, said that the team will miss the services of the duo as they seek to reclaim the title they last won in 2017.
However, he added that the remaining players are capable and that Fidelis Omondi from Impala and Brian Kiptoom from Kenya College of Accountancy University (KCA-U) will be good additions to the team, hoping they fill the gap left by the two key players.
Mugambi guided Police to win the Vaisakhi International Hockey Tournament title at the Sikh Union Club on Saturday, beating Western Jaguars 3-2 in the final.
He said that the season looks competitive, and the status quo might be challenged when the season comes to an end.
Mugambi said that three youthful teams, namely Strathmore University, Wazalendo, and Western Jaguars, play a technical and fast game and are the teams to look out for.
He added that the team lacks depth and they have not employed players for a while now. Most civilians that they have brought on board survive on allowances, which has derailed their prosperity. Mugambi said that things would be different if they had a chance to employ.
