GLADIATORS CAGE VULTURES: Sweet revenge for Strathmore as they hit KU 5-1 in men’s hockey tie

SPORTS: Hockey Men National League at City Park Strathmore University player Edgar Makete(l) the ball when as Parkroad Gilbert Langat blocks when they played Men National League at City Park. Sailors 1-0. ON 18/04/15 PHOTO; JENIPHER WACHIE

Men’s hockey premier league champions Strathmore University defeated Kenyatta University 5-1 at City Park Stadium over the weekend.

It was was sweet revenge for Strathmore’s Gladiators, who lost 4-0 to KU’s Vultures in the first-leg match.

Festus Onyango starred in the match, scoring three times for the two-time champions, while Derrick Kuloba and Job Jerry Ogaso scored one goal each for Strathmore, who won the national title in 2009 and 2010.

Gladiators’ head coach Meshack Senge said their main aim now is to win the remaining league matches and secure a good finish.

“We want to have a good finish, which means we must win our remaining matches. We lost to KU in the first leg not because they were too good, but because my boys underrated them. We learnt the hard way and we can’t afford to make the same mistakes in our next matches.”

As both teams settled in the game, league debutants KU brimmed with confidence following their impressive show in the first leg. However, their buoyancy was short-lived after Kuloba put the Gladiators ahead after 15 minutes, through a penalty stroke.

The Vultures intensified their hunt for an equaliser and their efforts paid off in the 24th minute as Matthew Pompo converted a penalty corner to restore parity. Onyango cut short KU’s celebration as he beat goalkeeper Cosmos Ike three minutes later as Gladiators led 2-1 at halftime. It was evident that KU were struggling without their hit-man Shadrack Ruto, who was unavailable as Strathmore dominated the match. Onyango sounded the boards in the 40th minute to consolidate their lead, before completing his hat-trick in the 54th minute.

Ogaso, who is a former St. Anthony’s High School student, announced his arrival to top flight hockey in style after scoring in the 56th minute to make matters 5-1 for the Gladiators.

Ogaso and his St. Anthony’s teammate Peter Mwatha will join other students from East Africa as they battle for the Brookside Dairy hockey scholarship in a boot-camp that begins today at the university.

Former champions Kenya Police defeated United States International University of Africa 2-0 in another premier league encounter at the same venue. Two goals in each half were enough for Police as they seek to reclaim the title they lost last season to Butali Sugar Warriors.

Victor Wafula opened the scores three minutes to halftime, before Sammy Wokila sealed victory.