Name of Kenya gets many Hull locals excited

IN KINGSTON UPON HULL, UK

Kenya is better known the world over for her running prowess and here in Kingston upon Hull, it is no different.

So as the SportPesa All Stars take to the pitch on Monday evening against Hull City Tigers at the KCOM Stadium, local spectators will be keenly watching to find out if there are any modifications to Kenyan athletes’ running style that makes them such good long distance runners.

All the seven people I spoke to here (including a bus driver, a receptionist and a university student) could neither point out Kenya’s location on the map of Africa nor name the president of Kenya.

But all of them however seemed quiet knowledgeable about Olympics and the long distance exploits of Kenya.

London did host the 2012 Olympic Games, and this could be the reason. No matter, two animatedly talked about 800m Olympic champion David Rudisha and his achievements.

I met a librarian called Paul McCurphy and his daughter at the Emirates Stadium in London, and he said that he planned to make the five-hour road trip from his home in Islington (London) to Hull on Monday just to catch a glimpse of the Kenyan team and their style of play.

“Oh, I heard that on the news,” he said when I mentioned the All Stars game on Monday. “I have to be there. My mother’s sister-in-law was actually Kenyan and before she died she used to tell me so many stories about the country. I watched and cheered Rudisha at the Olympics. He is my favourite athlete besides (Usain) Bolt. Does every Kenyan athlete run like that,” he posed.

Meanwhile, 15 members of the SportPesa All Stars team arrived in London on Wednesday. Sony Sugar’s young sensation Joshua Otieno and the Posta Rangers duo of Geoffrey Kataka and Patrick Matasi were left behind over visa issues, but are expected to join the team later this week.

The rest of the squad, including coach Stanley Okumbi and captain Moses Odhiambo, arrived in England on Thursday.

They will remain in Kingston upon Hull until Monday next week when they face the Hull City Tigers at the KCOM Stadium.

A stadium tour (at KCOM), an interactive session with the different age group teams at the club and two formal dinners have been lined up for the 18-man squad before the Monday kick-off.