Kenya women’s hockey team captain Gilly Okumu is unbothered despite Kenya being drawn in a tough Pool B at the 2022 Commonwealth Games slated to be hosted in Birmingham, United Kingdom later next month. 

Okumu who was named national team vice-captain in 2018 before assuming total responsibility a year later during the Olympic qualifiers in Stellenbosch, South Africa, just like the other team Kenya players has huge expectations even as Kenya makes a debut at the ‘Club Games’. 

Kenya is in Pool B at the Commonwealth Games, which has been termed as the ‘Group of death’ where Australia who have won the gold medal a record four-times will be looking to avenge the loss they suffered at the 2018 Gold Coast Games when they lost 4-1 to New Zealand in the final. 

The other team in the pool are South Africa are no pushovers either having bagged silver three times in 1998, 2002 and 2014. 

“Getting prior information about your opponents is good for your preparations,” Okumu told People Sports during an interview at the team’s residential training camp at the Moi International Sports Center Kasarani. 

Different perspectives

She continued: “It gives you different perspectives on how you plan for your matches, with the help of our coaches we have been able to watch and analyse videos of our opponents, which plays a key part of our preparations.” 

Okumu, one of the multi-talented sportswomen in the country attributes her success both at the club level spanning over 12 years to sheer discipline and passion for what she loves. 

“Energy is energy, “ she said. “I am extremely passionate with what I do, I give my all on and off the pitch, of course, that coupled with discipline, hard work and of course putting God first .”