New handball season begins at Nyayo
What you need to know:
- Women’s champions Nairobi Water launch their hunt for a fourth league crown against Mount Kenya University (MKU) Eldoret at 10am in the opening match of the new season.
The 2016-2017 Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) National League begins this weekend with eight matches set to be played at the Nyayo National Stadium Handball Court.
Women’s champions Nairobi Water launch their hunt for a fourth league crown against Mount Kenya University (MKU) Eldoret at 10am in the opening match of the new season.
Rangers from Bungoma, Dedan Kimathi (Nyeri) and Glorious Handball Club (Mombasa) will debut in the men’s league while Nairobi-based Sparkles Club will join the women’s league. Rangers face an uphill task with two crunch matches on Saturday.
The Bungoma-based club face Ulinzi Youth at 11.45am in a men’s encounter before meeting 2012 champions Black Mamba at 3pm in their final match of the day. Nairobi Water will be aiming for a perfect start as they seek another successful campaign. The East and Central African Club Champions have brought in three new back court players to help them in their title defence.
Water coach Jack Ochieng believes the new players will give his team depth as they seek for success on both the domestic and continental front.
“The new players will give us cover especially in our defence which suffered at times last season. “We are ready to defend our titles,” the coach said on Friday.
The trio, Valerie Adhiambo from MKU, Rose Ambongo from Sunshine High School, Kisumu and St Pauls’ University’s Valentine Owuor are expected to make their debut against MKU.
Men’s champions Ulinzi will get their title defence going against MKU Eldoret Saturday afternoon. Ulinzi who warmed up for the league by clinching the Super Cup tourney will welcome back key players Nicholas Ireri, Peter Chege and Paul Ngei who were away on national duty.
Ulinzi Team Manager Sammy Mwangangi has identified Black Mamba and rivals National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) as his team’s main challengers this season.
“Our pre-season has been excellent and we have had time to work on the grey areas. The lads are fired up and ready to face the opposition,” he said.
Rangers will complete their weekend assignments against NCPB while Strathmore take on Ulinzi Youth as MKU Eldoret play Boomarang on Sunday.
FIXTURES (All Matches at Nyayo Stadium Handball Court)
Saturday
Women: Nairobi Water v MKU Eldoret (10am)
Men: Rangers v Ulinzi Youth (11.45am), MKU Eldoret v Ulinzi (1pm), Mamba v Rangers (2.30pm)
Sunday
Women: Ulinzi v MKU Eldoret (10am)
Men: Boomarang v MKU Eldoret (11.45am), Rangers v Cereals (1pm), Strathmore v Ulinzi Youth (2.30pm)
