Telkom Orange on course to seal 18th league title

The women's Telkom Orange Hockey team on arrival at the JKIA from the Africa Hockey Club Championships in Lusaka, Zambia on December 20, 2015 where they retained their Africa Hockey Club title. The team will retain their Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) women’s national league crown with a win in either one of their two league games this weekend. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |

What you need to know:

  • Orange take on Mount Kenya University (MKU) on Saturday at City Park Stadium before playing Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) on Sunday at the same venue.
  • Orange are on 42 points, five ahead of second placed Strathmore University Scorpions who have two matches left compared to Telkom’s four.
  • The defending champions have dominated the league winning their last 14 matches and only conceding once, scoring 97 goals in their quest for an unprecedented 18th league crown.
  • In the men’s premier league, Greensharks will be looking to reclaim third place with victories in their two weekend league assignments.

Champions Telkom Orange will retain their Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) women’s national league crown with a win in either one of their two league games this weekend.

Orange take on Mount Kenya University (MKU) on Saturday at City Park Stadium before playing Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) on Sunday at the same venue.

Orange are on 42 points, five ahead of second placed Strathmore University Scorpions who have two matches left compared to Telkom’s four.

The defending champions have dominated the league winning their last 14 matches and only conceding once, scoring 97 goals in their quest for an unprecedented 18th league crown.

Scorpions 1-0 loss to United States International University of Africa (USIU) Spartans last weekend ended their dim hopes of catching the 17 league time champions.

UNBEATEN RUN

A confident Orange coach Jos Openda believes his team can end the season unbeaten and has called on his charges to rise to the occasion this weekend.

“It has been a good run, we have played the best hockey in the league this season and our position is fully justified, we want to end on a high and keep breaking more records, ”Openda told Saturday Nation Sport.

The African club champions hammered MKU 22-0 in the first leg fixture last year and will be favourites to complete the double against their opponents who are bottom of the league with two points and yet to win a single match.

Kenyan International Lilian Aura scored four times during the encounter with Captain Betsy Omalla grabbing a hatrick.

MKU coach James Waruta wants his team to forget the first leg loss and focus on getting a good result in the encounter.

“It is a big match for them (Orange) as they go for the title, we need to be alert and avoid any mistakes that will give our opponents any sort of advantage," Waruta said.

MEN'S LEAGUE

In the men’s premier league, Greensharks will be looking to reclaim third place with victories in their two weekend league assignments.

Sharks take on 2012 champions Sikh Union Nairobi on Saturday afternoon at City Park Stadium before playing Kenya College of Accountancy University (KCAU) on Sunday.

With the top two clubs not in action this weekend, victory in both matches will see Sharks move eight points behind second placed Butali Sugar Warriors.

In other men’s premier league matches, KCAU play Parkroad on Saturday evening while on Sunday Parkroad will be up against Sikh Union with all matches being played at the City Park Stadium.

In the men’s national league, league leaders Chase Sailors take on third place Kabarak University Saturday afternoon while Sunday Daystar Falcons welcome Kabarak.