Warriors in league play-offs

Butali Sugar Warriors booked a place in the play-offs of this season’s Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) league after collecting maximum points in their two matches at the weekend.

Warriors, formerly Kisumu Simba, beat Greensharks 2-0 on Sunday at the City Park Stadium and overcame Western Jaguars 3-1 on Saturday evening to conclude an impressive season which has seen them play six games in three weeks, winning four and drawing two.

Second-half goals from Joeren Stoech and Emmanuel Simiyu condemned Sharks to their first defeat of the season. The win moved them top of Pool A with 14 points three more than second-placed Greensharks. Both teams have finished their matches.

Warriors coach, Cliffe Okello, was full of praise for his charges, saying they deserved a place in the semi-final after playing their hearts out.

“It has been an intense campaign. Playing six games in three weeks was tough, but the lads responded well and now we don’t care which team we face in the play-offs. We are ready for anyone,” Okello said.

Kisumu-based Warriors came into Sunday’s game level on points with Greensharks following Saturday’s win.

The match was preceded by a minute’s silence in honour of former Kenyan international and Greensharks player Joab Omach who died last week.

WARRIORS DEFENCE

Sharks started brightly, with Tony Nyukuri and Leon Magomere troubling the Warriors defence early on. They were rewarded with two short corners in the first 15 minutes which went unconverted.

Sharks almost went ahead in the 20th minute when John Wachira’s shot went inches wide as the visitors survived again. Warriors then created the best chance of the half when Emmanuel Simiyu’s sliced shot hit Shark’s post.

Warriors came back stronger in the second half and went ahead in the 41st minute when Frank Wanangwe and William Oketch combined to set up Stoech to score his third goal of the season.

Three minutes later, Warriors doubled their lead when Simiyu converted a penalty corner.

Sharks tried to find a way back to the game but were thwarted by the Warriors defence, marshalled by skipper Kenneth Nyongesa.

“The best team lost. We dominated but they scored from their two chances,” Greensharks coach Nixon Nyangaga said.

Earlier, Nakuru Sikh and Western Jaguars played out a 2-2 draw.