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Warriors take on Greensharks in KHU league season opener


The 2015 Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) league finally gets underway this weekend with nine matches on the cards, four on Saturday and five on Sunday at City Park Stadium.

Men’s premier league defending champions Butali Sugar Warriors kick start their title defence against Greensharks on Saturday evening at City Park Stadium looking for a good start as the league reverts to the home and away format.

Warriors have bolstered their squad signing three new players as they chase honours on both the domestic and continental front.

The lakeside team go into the game as favourites against a Greensharks team they beat 2-0 last season enroute to their third title.

Warriors coach Cliffe Okello is wary of their opponents whom he termed as a dangerous and capable of ruining his team’s chances of defending the title.

“The Greensharks are a good side and will be out to collect maximum and that is why we need to be on top of our game and ensure we do not slip up. We want to have a good start this season,” Okello said.

Greensharks, who finished fifth last season, will be looking for another giant killing act this season. They will be looking for a repeat performance of last season when they beat then champions Kenya Police on the opening day.

CHALLENGE FOR THE TITLE

“We had a good run last season but did not finish strongly and that cost us a playoff place. We are aiming for consistency this season so that we can be among the challengers for the title,” Greensharks coach Nixon Nyangaga told Saturday Nation Sport.

Daystar University will make their debut in the national women’s league with a match against United States International University of Africa (USIU-A), while Impala will likewise make their debut in the national men’s league when they take on Daystar University. Strathmore Gladiators will be up against Wazalendo.

On Sunday, 2013 champions Kenya Police will take on Nairobi Simba in the weekend’s highlight match.

Police warmed for the new season by winning the Uganda Hockey Association (UHA) 2015 Easter Cup open in Kampala last weekend.

The law enforces beat USIU men’s team 1-0 in the final and are out to reclaim their title despite losing two players to their rivals.

Police team manager Tom Ondeng believes the team still has a strong squad that can challenge for the title.

Fixtures – Saturday:

National ladies: USIU v Daystar – (City Park-12pm)

National men: Impala v Daystar – (City Park-2pm)

Premier men: Strathmore v Wazalendo – (City Park-4pm)

Premier men: Greensharks v Butali – (City Park-6pm)

Sunday:

National ladies: USIU v Sliders – (City Park-9am)

National men: Chase v UON – (City Park-11 am)

Premier men: Parkroad v KCAU – (City Park-1pm)

Premier men: USIU A v Parklands – (City Park-3pm)

Premier men : Police v Nairobi Simba – (City Park-5pm)