Butali, Police title fight surges on
What you need to know:
- Butali scored through Vincent Odhiambo, Seth Oburu, Zack Aura and Hannington Opede to confine Simba to more miseries.
- While Butali have 16 wins and two losses from 18 outings, Police have 15 wins and one defeat from 16 matches.
- Butali now remain with four matches to wrap up the season, while Police have six, which makes it an interesting episode.
Wazalendo might have stunned Nairobi Simba, but the focus stayed on leaders Butali Sugar Warriors and champions Kenya Police as they engaged in an electrifying two-horse battle in the men’s hockey Premier League last weekend.
Kennedy Munialo complete his brace from a field goal with three minutes to time spur Wazalendo to a 3-2 victory over former Champions Nairobi Simba at City Park Stadium, Nairobi on Saturday.
On Sunday, Butali Sugar loaded more miseries on Inderjeet Matharu’s Nairobi Simba, thumping them 4-1 at City Park.
However, Police are breathing fire down Butali’s necks, having beaten Western Jaguars 1-0 in Kakamega on Saturday.
It’s Davies Wanangwe, who put Simba ahead with a field goal in the 12th minute, before Munialo drew level for Wazalendo a minute later from a penalty corner.
Veteran Matharu would strike from a penalty corner in the 18th to put Simba ahead again at the break 2-1, before Wazalendo cracked their systems as Elly Mwanzi levelled for them in the 42nd minute from a field goal.
It’s then that Munialo stepped up to score the winning goal for Wazalendo in the last quarter, a victory that saw them solidify their second place with 29 points from nine wins, seven losses and two draws.
It was Simba’s 10th defeat of the season as they stayed sixth with 20 points from six wins and two draws.
Butali Sugar might have won but Police’s pressure is on. Police only needed Willis Okeyo’s penalty stroke in the second quarter to silence Western Jaguars 1-0 in Kakamega.
Police stayed second in the league with an improved tally of 45 points, three adrift of Butali Sugar Warriors.
Butali scored through Vincent Odhiambo, Seth Oburu, Zack Aura and Hannington Opede to confine Simba to more miseries.
While Butali have 16 wins and two losses from 18 outings, Police have 15 wins and one defeat from 16 matches.
Butali now remain with four matches to wrap up the season, while Police have six, which makes it an interesting episode.
Butali have a date with United States International University, Strathmore University Gladiators and Greensharks, before the final outing against Police.
This is the duel that perhaps could decide the league winner in both teams keep winning.
The league takes a break this weekend before resuming on October 27, where Police will face Kenya College of Accountancy -University (KCA-U). Police will then play Nakuru, Wazalendo, Nairobi Simba, Parkroad and Butali to end their season.
“We played well in Kakamega but missed scoring because of the grounds. We are not used to playing on the grass,” said Police coach Patrick Mugambi. “We are taking each match seriously with no room for mistakes.”
“We know how close the title race is after we lost our second match to Parkroad but that is what makes the chase a thriller,” said Butali Sugar Warriors coach Dennis Owoka. “We have no choice but to win all our remaining matches if we are to reclaim the title.”
Greensharks stayed fourth with 28 points after edging out Parklands 2-1 at City Park as Parkroad badgers faltered to draw 0-0 with Nakuru 0-0 in Nakuru, a week after stunning Butali 1-0 at City Park.
