Prowling Sliders eye top slot in hockey league

Sliders' Nancy Jepchumba (left) wheels away in celebration after scoring a goal against Mombasa Sports Club during the women's national hockey league match on April 17, 2016 at City Park Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • The match is one of eight fixtures lined up this weekend as the league enters its third round.
  • Sliders, who finished second last season to book their spot in this year’s Africa Club Championship, will be aiming to claim their second win of the season.
  • Sliders hammered Daystar Falcons 10-0 in their opening match and will be favourites to claim three points Saturday afternoon.

Sliders will be eyeing top spot when they take on Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in the Kenya Hockey Union Women’s Premier League on Saturday at the City Park Stadium.

The match is one of eight fixtures lined up this weekend as the league enters its third round.

Kisumu-based Bay Club, who are making a return to the men’s top flight league after gaining promotion last season, will be in Nairobi to take on Sikh Union Nairobi on Saturday and Parklands on Sunday.

Sliders, who finished second last season to book their spot in this year’s Africa Club Championship, will be aiming to claim their second win of the season.

Sliders hammered Daystar Falcons 10-0 in their opening match and will be favourites to claim three points Saturday afternoon.

Siblings Dorsie and Anita Agunda bagged hat-tricks against Falcons and are expected to lead the attack against the university side.

Sliders coach Nixon Nyangaga has a fit squad to choose from and wants his charges to maintain consistency this season.

“Our main target this season is the Club Championship in December and we are using the league matches to help us prepare for that,” the tactician told Saturday Nation Sport.

JKUAT edged out Falcons 1-0 in their season opener and a win for the Juja-based side will see them move top of the league with six points.

“We want to improve on our finish last season and our win in the first match gives us the confidence that we can get a good result in tomorrow’s (today) match,” JKUAT Team Manager David Onaka said.

Second placed Sliders area point behind league leaders and champions Telkom Orange who have four points while JKUAT are third also on three points.

Visitors Bay Club will fancy their chances of getting a good result against the 2012 champions Sikh Union Nairobi who went down 3-1 to Strathmore University Gladiators in their Pool B opener. Bay Club coach Tom Bello wants his charges to ensure they stay in the top flight this season.

“The lads have been waiting to play in the premier league again and we have learnt from our past mistakes. Our mission is to reach the play-offs this season,” Bello said.

After Saturday evening’s encounter against Sikh, Bay will lock horns with Parklands tomorrow also at the City Park Stadium.

In Pool A, Kenya College of Accountancy University host Wazalendo with both sides in search of their first win of the season.

FIXTURES

Saturday:

Premier women: Sliders v JKUAT (12pm)

National men: Kabarak v Thika Rovers (2pm)

Premier men: Wazalendo v KCAU (4pm), Sikh v Bay Club (6pm)

Sunday:

Premier men: Parklands v Bay Club (9am)

National men: Wazalendo Youth v Kabarak (11am), Parkroad Tigers v Kimathi (3pm)

Premier women: Vikings v Amiras Sailors (1pm)