Butali eye continental title after domestic success

Butali Warriors celebrate after being crowned the Kenya Hockey Union Men's Premier League champions at the City Park Stadium, Nairobi, on May 1,2016. The club has shifted focus on Africa Club Championship. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Coach Odendo said victory will not only bring Kenya pride but also serve to repay what their sponsors Butali Sugar have invested in the team.
  • Butali Sugar, formerly Kisumu Simba, won 24 of their league matches, drew twice and lost once to arch-rivals Kenya Police to retain the title on 77 points, condemning Police to second with 73 points.
  • Odendo attributed their success in the league to hard work, discipline, commitment and good support from sponsors Butali Sugar.

After claiming their second straight Kenya Hockey Union Premier League men’s title, Butali Sugar Warriors have shifted focus on winning the Africa Club Championship this year.

Head coach Cliff Odendo on Monday said what his team has achieved this season will count for nothing if they do not emulate the feat achieved by the defunct Armed Forces who won the continental title in 1998.

“We are determined to retain the local title for the third time next season, but the main bridge we have to cross is winning the continental title this season,” said Odendo.

“We must bring the Africa trophy back, God willing, and that should be the icing on the cake.”

Odendo said victory will not only bring Kenya pride but also serve to repay what their sponsors Butali Sugar have invested in the team.

“The best we can do to appreciate our fans and sponsors is to win the continental title,” said Odendo.

Butali Sugar, formerly Kisumu Simba, won 24 of their league matches, drew twice and lost once to arch-rivals Kenya Police to retain the title on 77 points, condemning Police to second with 73 points.

GOOD SUPPORT

Despite winning the title last year after beating Kenya Police 2-1, Butali Sugar Warriors failed to travel for the Africa Club Championships in Zimbabwe. Odendo attributed their success in the league to hard work, discipline, commitment and good support from sponsors Butali Sugar.

“It may have looked easy for many people but it took a lot of blood and sweat to retain the title,” said the tactician. “Domestically, the challenge for us is to claim a hat-trick of titles next season.”

Team manager Kamal Sembi acknowledged that the team's main challenge in their quest to retain the title was having separate training sessions in Nairobi and Kisumu on murram pitch and on astro-turf respectively.

“We have players based in these two places and monitoring what they were doing was a challenge,” said Sembi. “I am happy we achieved it.”

Sembi said the players looked beyond the challenge since it was nothing compared to the ultimate prize.

“Butali Sugar Warriors is a family and every player laboured to deliver at his position,” said Sembi.

But Sembi is worried by low standards of the game at all levels locally.

“We have only four teams who can challenge for the title from a pool of 15 teams in the Premiership and only two in the lower league. This is worrying. We need to address this for the good of the national team,” he noted.

Odendo looks forward to recruiting more players to bolster the squad ahead of the new season and continental championships.

“With a good defence, the team can move forward solidify and score,” he concluded.