Veteran wants to exit in style

Veteran Nickson Nyangaga is set to call its quits this weekend, but he is determined to do it in style by winning his maiden men’s hockey Premier League title and hand Green Sharks their first league crown only three seasons into the top flight.

The father of three hangs his hockey stick after 26 years of active play when he takes on agile Strathmore University in the second semi-final play-off at 4pm on Saturday. He hopes to vanquish the varsity students for a final date on Sunday with either the undefeated Kenya Police or Wazalendo, who engage at 2pm. All matches will be played at City Park.

In his hockey career spanning over two decades, Nyangaga, who honed his skills at Kisumu Day back in the ’90s, has featured for Kisumu Flickers, Mombasa Youngsters, Barclays Bank, Aga Khan and Green Sharks. Nyangaga, 38, is the brains behind the formation of Green Sharks in 2004 after spearheading Aga Khan to a third league finish in 2000.

He handled the national women’s team in 1998 and is currently coach-cum-player at the Sharks. He also coaches Sliders women’s team, which he took to the Africa Cup Club championships final in December, quite a feat. He believes that bad politics at the Kenya Hockey Union and his being vocal must have cost him a place in the national team despite attending trials in 1996 and 1998 for Commonwealth Games.

“I have had enough of hockey and I want to step aside in style by winning the first league title,” said Nyangaga. “I want to give youngsters a chance and also concentrate on coaching and my family.”

Take after him

His desire is to see his first-born daughter Sylvia, who turns seven this year, take after him. His other daughter, Anne, is five and the last-born, Nickson Junior, three. The offensive midfielder believes that the Sharks have what it takes to win the title, having been runners-up last season to qualify for Africa Cup Clubs contest.

In the normal league this season, they finished third behind leaders Kenya Police and Strathmore with 11 wins, five draws and four loses. Police had 14 wins and six draws as Strathmnore won 13 matches, shared the spoils in four and lost three. The Sharks and Strathmore drew 2-2 in the first leg after the students equalised in the last minute but the Sharks emerged victorious 2-1 in the return leg.

“Even though Strathmore are young and fast upfront, I believe our vast experience and intelligence will be the remedy,” says Nyangaga, singling out himself, Leonard Mutuku, Patrick Ogara and Samuel Mucheke as the students’ tormentors.

The fluid Wazalendo youngsters are up against a formidable Police, with whom they drew 0-0 and lost to 1-0 in the normal league. Police will bank on striker Moses Cheplait and midfielder Godfrey Wachunga, but Wazalendo could win the midfield battle with Peter Karanja, Job Omondi and Mike Otieno.

High-flying United States International University-Africa will seek to trounce champions Telkom Orange in the women’s final. USIU-A stunned Sliders 2-1 while Telkom crushed Vikings 6-0 to set up the final.

Saturday: Men’s Premier League play-off - Kenya Police v Wazalendo (2.00pm); Strathmore University v Green Sharks (4.00pm).
Sunday: Ladies final - Telkom Orange v USIU-A (11.00am, City Park); Men’s Premier League final: 1pm