Tough Police, Spartans are Sana Cup champions
Nakuru Simba Titus Kimutai (right) dribbles past Kenya Police Willis Okeyo on September 21, 2014 during their National Hockey league match at City Park Stadium. Kenya Police won 5-0. Kenya Police and USIU Spartans hockey teams are the 2014 Sana Cup champions. FILE PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Police and Spartans won the men and women’s titles respectively after winning the final matches at the Goan Institute in Mombasa on Monday.
- Spartans beat Telkom Young Rovers 2-1 on penalties after both teams failed to score during normal time while Kenya Police beat USIU Odoshe 3-0 in a one sided men’s final to reclaim the title.
Kenya Police and USIU Spartans hockey teams are the 2014 Sana Cup champions.
Police and Spartans won the men and women’s titles respectively after winning the final matches at the Goan Institute in Mombasa on Monday.
Spartans beat Telkom Young Rovers 2-1 on penalties after both teams failed to score during normal time while Kenya Police beat USIU Odoshe 3-0 in a one sided men’s final to reclaim the title.
Two first half strikes from Nelson Ochieng and Kenyan international Brian Saina gave the league champions a well-deserved half-time lead before a third from Oliver Ochejwe in the second half saw the law enforcers romp to victory.
The score could have been worse but USIU goalkeeper Linus Sang pulled a number of saves to prevent his team from further going behind in the final.
STELLAR PERFORMANCE
The win capped of a memorable performance for Police who went through the three-day event unbeaten in the event that attracted a record 23 teams.
It is Police’s third Sana Cup win since the inception of the event five years ago.
Police thrashed Greensharks 6-0 in the semi-final enroute to the final while USIU shocked last year’s winners Nairobi Simba 1-0 in the other last four encounter.
Moses Karanja scored the winner for the university side to dump out the champions who had been expected to advance to the final with many looking forward to a Police and Simba final.
Police coach Kenneth Kaunda lauded his charges for their impressive displays saying the team will build on the win as they resume their league defence next weekend.
“The lads played well, enjoyed themselves and won the title. We hope the win will inspire us in the league and the continental club championship next month,” Kaunda said.
USIU and Telkom both cancelled out each other in their encounter as neither team threatened, taking the game to penalties.
Internationals Pauline Naise and Lorraine Nondi converted for USIU while Telkom scored their goals through Mary Njoki.
USIU Spartans had beaten Telkom’s first team, Orange 2-0 on penalties in the semi-finals after a 0-0 draw.
