ORANGE TACKLE SLIDERS: Hockey champions keen to extend league lead

USIU Lucy Wangechi(r) and Orange Lillian Aura(r) fight for the ball when they played Women National league at CityPark. Orange scored 2-O. ON 29/11/15 PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE

Champions Telkom Orange face Sliders in a Kenya Hockey Union women’s league encounter tomorrow at City Park Stadium. The clash is one of the ten matches lined up this weekend.

The reigning queens will leave no room for error as they seek to defend their title. Orange are currently at the peak of the table and a win over Sliders will enhance their chances of retaining the title.

Telkom coach Jos Openda told Feverpitch that Orange are determined to win all their remaining matches and put a firm grip on their crown.

“We are on a mission to defend our title and extend our reign. I believe my girls have what it takes to make it happen,” Openda said

Orange dropped points in their 2-2 draw against bitter rivals Strathmore University Scorpions. They lead the standings with 16 points while Strathmore are second with 11. Newcomers Amira Sailors who have proved they are no push-overs are third with ten points.

In today’s tie Amira will be hoping to bounce back from the 1-0 loss to Strathmore and increase their chances of a top four finish.

They take on fourth placed United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Spartans.

The Scorpions have a chance to consolidate their second place when they take on Kenyatta University Titans in another women’s match tomorrow.

In the last round of the men’s Premier League group matches titleholders Butali Sugar Warriors lock horns with USIU-A in pool B dead rubber tie. Warriors have played like champions dominating their opponents and they remain unbeaten.

Warriors coach Cliffe Okello said that they will be going for a win because they are targeting finishing the season with a clean slate.

“The outcome of this match will not affect our place in the playoffs, but it matters to us because we still want to maintain our unbeaten run.

We are going for nothing less than victory because our aim is to retain out title without dropping a point,” Okello said.

In other Premier League matches Nairobi Sikh Union face Parklands in group A while Parkroad tackle debutantes Chase Sailors in pool B.

Sailors will be hoping to end their run on a high note.