Sikh Union seek to move up standings

Ten Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) league matches are on the cards this weekend in Nairobi and Kisumu.

Former league champions Sikh Union Nairobi will be out to bounce back from a stuttering start to the season when they face Greensharks on Sunday at the City Park Stadium in the pick of the weekend matches.

The 2012 champions have endured a disastrous start to the season, managing only three wins in six matches which have seen them drop to eighth on the standings.

A huge win over Greensharks could however see them move into third place on the table above rivals Kenya Police. Sikh Union will fancy their chances against a Greensharks side lacking in confidence and with only one win out of five games played.

Club player-coach Inderjit Matharu has urged his team to shrug off their poor outings and put on a decent run in their next league matches. Sikh Union were thumped 3-0 by USIU-A in their last league match and Matharu warned against a repeat performance.

“We did not play well against USIU and we deservedly lost, we have a chance to put that behind us this weekend by winning this match. We are making too many mistakes and getting punished for that, we need to rectify this,” Matharu told Nation Sport.

BOUNCE BACK

For his part, Sharks coach Nixon Nyangaga believes his team has put their troubled start to the season behind them and are playing ‘good hockey’. The tactician expects a closely contested match.

“Both teams are desperate for the points and this makes it a very difficult match to predict. We have trained well and I am confident my boys will take their chances and win the match,” Nyangaga said.

Kenya College of Accountancy University (KCA-U) will be looking to inflict more misery on basement side Parklands in another men’s premier league match Saturday afternoon. Newcomers Parklands have lost all their six matches this season.

Kenyatta University, who were also promoted to the premier league this season, take on Nakuru hockey club in another league encounter with both teams looking for the points to move up the table.

On Sunday, Parklands will take on Nakuru Hockey Club as they aim for their first win of the season while JKUAT will take on KU Titans in the only national women’s league match this weekend.

FIXTURES (All Matches at City Park Stadium unless stated)

National ladies: JKUAT v KU – 12pm

National men: Kabarak v Impala – 2pm, Bay v Multimedia – 3pm (Kisumu)

Premier men: KU v Nakuru – 4pm, Parklands v KCAU – 6pm

SUNDAY

National men: Ksm Youngstars v Multimedia- 9m (Kisumu), Kabarak v Wazalendo Youth (9am), Thika rovers v Chase Sailors (11am)

Premier men: Parklands v Nakuru – 1pm, Sikh v Greensharks, 3pm