Orange’s Rotich to play pro Hockey in Italy

Telkom Orange, the Kenya Hockey Union Premier League champions will open their 2012 season without Margaret Rotich, one of their top forwards who is expected to leave for Italy for professional hockey.

The former St Mary’s Girls secondary school student will join Rome's Superba club.Rotich who scored over 15 goals in the league last year will be the second player from Telkom Orange to feature in the Italian league. Already, Lillian Kimeu plays for Italian club, Butterfly.

Rotich hoped that the deal will be sealed soon after the talks which have reached an advanced stage are completed. She told sportsnewsarena.com the deal could be sealed as early as next month. “I will have to sit down with my coach first to hear what he’s saying but I think the deal will be sealed before the end of February,” said Rotich.

She is expected to depart for trials in Italy on February 15. The two and a half months trials will be key to the start of her professional career. According to Jos Openda, Telkom Orange's head coach, Rotich's performance in the league was being closely monitored by other coaches and some of the players who have had a stint in Italy such as Barnabas Odhiambo. “She’s a good player and I know of a number of coaches from Italy who have been scouting her since last year. We will miss her in the team but that was a positive move for her,” Openda told sportsnewsarena.com.

Strathmore University player, Brian Musasia is also expected to join the Superba men’s club adding to the growing list of Kenyans joining the Italian hockey league. Other Kenyans players in Italy are Barnabas Odhiambo and Kenya men’s captain, Zack Aura who both turn for the sister club, Superba men’s and Lillian Kimeu who plays for the Butterflies club. Cliff Odendo, a former Kenya captain opened the Italian doors for Kenyan players.

Rotich, 18 got her first call up to the national team in 2008 where she represented the country in the under-21 Olympic qualifiers.

She was delighted by the news. “It’s always been my dream to play hockey at a professional level. I started playing hockey while in form two (2006) and I’ve never looked backed,” said Rotich.

She was in the Telkom Orange team which won the 2009 Africa Club championship hosted by Kenya. Telkom Orange were fifth in Ghana the following year.

Elvince Joshua

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