Ice Hockey: Kenya Floors Team World To Lift 2025 Madaraka Day Cup

_{Kenya Ice Lions Captain Benjamin Mburu with the Madaraka Day Cup they won against Team World at the Panari Ice Rink in Nairobi on Monday June 2, 2025. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO}

_{Kenya trio of Chumbana Likiza, Carol Joseph and Hanaan Ali set to travel to Canada for a high profile ice hockey Fellowship Program.} 

NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya Ice Lions thrashed Team World, composed of players from USA, Canada and Finland 9-5 to lift the fifth edition of Madaraka Day Cup staged at the Panari Hotel Ice Rink in Nairobi on Monday.

Captain Benjamin Mburu and  Denis Lumumba netted a brace each as Kenya cruised past the unlucky visitors.

Other scorers for Kenya in the intense battle included Abdulwahab Ngamate, Mike Otieno, Arnold Mburu and Trevor Mwangi.

Merk Senruk notched a hatrick for the visitors with Erin Das and team skipper Jukka Korhonen adding a goal each for the losing effort.

_{The Kenya Ice Lions Team after winning the 2025 Madaraka Day Cup at the Panari Ice Rink in Nairobi on Monday June 2, 2025. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO}

Basking in the glory, Mburu hailed his winning team, stating that their unity and strength is what granted them the glittering cup for the first in history.

” We are happy with this huge margin of victory. It is indeed a very big moment for Kenya, as this is our first ever Madaraka Day Cup which we are thrilled to comfortably nestle in our cabinet,” Mburu underlined.

“The secret to lifting this trophy lies on the intensed preparations we had for weeks ahead of this crunch fixture. We practiced man-marking, furnished our skating techniques, and improved on our skills ahead of the tournament. We are happy they paid off,” Mburu highlighted.

Asked what next for the national team after the sweet revenge, Mburu stated: ” The season ends in a month’s time, but we are looking for more tournaments, more playing time and more international outings in the coming season, starting with the Africa Cup that is set for South Africa.

_{Kenya Ice Lions Captain Benjamin Mburu (Right) with Kenya Federation of Ice Sports official Kellen Maina after lifting the Madaraka Day Cup against Team World at the Panari Ice Rink in Nairobi on Monday June 2, 2025. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO}

“Madaraka Day Cup was the second international tournament that Kenya was hosting this season, after the Friendship League in January.

“We are also looking forward to the Jamhuri Day clash in December against international opponents.”

While admitting their loss to Kenya, Team World captain Korhonen from Finland said they are going to regroup, and train hard to reclaim their glory in the  Jamhuri Day Cup.

“We assembled the best arsenal for the Madaraka Day Cup, unfortunately we could not find the back of the net as we had hoped for, we are now going back to the drawing board to analyse what did not work out. We hope to return stronger and better for the December showdown,” the Finn stated.

“Kenya is a wonderful country, with lovely people,  I love the fascinating Safari,” he added.
Meanwhile, three Kenyan women players have received an all expense paid trip for a high profile exchange program to Canada, courtesy of former Canadian professional player Soraya Tinker,in collaboration with the Black Girl Hockey Club- Canada.

The  Kenyan trio namely  Chumbana Likiza, Carol Joseph and Hanaan Ali, are set to travel to Canada in July for an ice hockey fellowship that will improve their skills and take their experience on the sport to the next level.

_{Kenya Federation of Ice Sports officials Kellen Maina (second left) and Ali Said Kilanga (right) with Olimpian Sabrina Wanjiku Simader and her boyfriend Manuel Trausenegger (second right) during Madaraka Day Cup showdown pitting Kenya Ice Lions agaisnt Team World at the Panari Ice Rink in Nairobi on Monday June 2, 2025. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO}

It will be the second time that Ali will be involved in such a high calibre program after she was awarded a full High School scholarship by Black Girl Hockey Club- USA in 2020.
It will also be the second time that Ali will be stepping on Canadian soil after she represented Kenya in the Curling championship in a past edition.

“As Kenya Federation of Ice Sports, we are glad with the high profile invites to Canada. We strongly believe this fellowship will strengthen the traveling players and will equip them with experience and skills needed to excel in the sport.

” We also believe this program will inspire and motivate many women to embrace this rare sport in Kenya,” Federation Vice President Ali Said Kilanga told Standard Sports.

Kenya Ice Lions scorers

Benjamin Mburu, brace

Denis Lumumba, brace

Abdulwahab Ngamate

Mike Otieno

Arnold Mburu,

Trevor Mwangi

Jersey number 2

Team World scorers

Merk Senruk hattrick

Erin Das

Jukka Korhonen