Strathmore University’s Scorpions team are set to represent and hopefully win the continental title at the 2014 Africa Cup of Club Championships (ACCC). The competition will take place at Khumalo Hockey Stadium in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The team has had a good run in the women’s league and remain unbeaten by the teams in their pool/groups, scoring 34 goals and conceding three this far.

 

 

True to their name, the Scorpions have a powerful sting to make any team notice their presence. Since its inception 2009 where the team started off with only 3 players, now boasting of 24 players, 13 of whom are in the National setup, the worst result the team has recorded was position four in the Kenya premier league. Their first participation in the continental showpiece earned them a fourth position while the second saw them rise up to the runners up position. The team is more than determined to emerge top in this attempt.

 

 

Scorpion is the last born of all the Strathmore teams but one of the highest achievers. Initially it was easy for the University to sponsor the two sports teams that existed then. However, as the number of teams grew up to nine, sports funding by the University became more and more challenging. Aware of this financial load, the high spirited girls decided to take initiative to raise funds in order to meet at least half a million of the required Kshs. 2.5 million to make the trip to Zimbabwe. The girls had an elegant dinner in the Strathmore University Auditorium where guests contributed and other approached Sponsors pledged their contributions.

 

 

One of the largest financiers of the Scorpions team was the Strathmore Governance Centre’s (SGC) Youth Project led by Dr. Kankindi, a Senior Lecturer at the Strathmore School of Humanities and Social Sciences as well as Research Fellow at the Governance Centre. The Youth project aims at contributing to enhance responsible citizenship for future responsible leaders and includes different sections, among them Sports. This features as a great source of youth development and source of livelihood. SGC is developing research in this particular field as well as other youth governance related ones.

 

 

Meshack Senge coaches both the Scorpions and the male hockey team, Gladiators. He played rugby, basketball, soccer and swimming until the hockey bug bit him in 1988. His passion for the game keeps the girls going and motivated. ‘Scorpions are indeed a unique team’ he confided. He applies different tactics for both teams which include; communicating instructions, encouraging the team, discipline and pushing for results whilst ensuring that the team spirit is not crushed. “We are as strong as our weakest link, therefore we do not leave anybody behind. I have absolute faith that my girls will do well,” he commented.

 

 

Scorpions are not only champions in the field but in the classroom too. The team produces some of the top performing students in the University. Their secret lies in proper time management ensuring that their books do not suffer even when they miss class. Together, the girls hold study groups and help each other to catch up on academic work. 

 

 

Linda Ayodi, a third year Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) student at Strathmore University is a beneficiary of the sports scholarship. She, like other players in the team, has been playing hockey since her high school days and joined the Scorpions in her first year of study. “Hockey teaches you to be a team player and to be disciplined,” says Linda.

 

Scorpions will join defending champions Orange Telkom as the only Kenyan representatives.

 

Fixtures:

Saturday 22nd November 4pm-6pm	Strathmore Scorpions vs BAC (Zimbabwe)
Sunday   23rd November 2pm-4pm	Strathmore Scorpions vs Tewnde (Tanzania)
Monday  24th November 2pm-4pm	Plateu Queens (Nigeria) vs Strathmore Scorpions
Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th	REST DAYS
Thursday 27th November 12pm-2pm	Shams (Egypt) vs Strathmore Scorpions
Friday 28th November 10am-12pm	Strathmore Scorpions vs GRA (Ghana)
Saturday 29th November	Pool position 5 vs 5; Position 4 vs 4
Sunday 30th November	Pool position 2 vs 2; Position 1 vs 1

 

Watch Coach Meshack Senge speak about the Scopions spirit: