Strathmore clash with USIU-A in campus derby

Two-time Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) men’s premier league champions, Strathmore Gladiators, are eyeing double league victory this weekend to topple champions Butali Sugar Warriors at the summit of the table.

Fourth on league standings with 10 points, all they need is winning their ties as they face bottom-placed Parklands SC today.

However, their biggest test comes tomorrow when they take on their United States International University of Africa (USIU -A) counterparts. Victory in both matches will see the Gladiators move top with 16 points, one more than league leaders and champions Butali who have not been in action for a while.

Strathmore head coach, Meshack Senge, has cautioned his boys against looking down on their opponents, especially relegation-threatened Parklands, noting that league position will count for nothing when the two teams take to the pitch.

“It will be catastrophic to think that we are favourites, because we are ahead of them (Parklands) in the table. We have prepared well for the game and have the utmost respect for the opposition,” Senge told FeverPitch.

The tactician has also urged his players to handle the match seriously to avoid losing their supremacy as they did against Kenya College of Accountancy University (KCAU) in their last league match where they threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2.

In the women’s league, Kenyatta University will be aiming to upset last season’s runners-up Strathmore Scorpions in the university derby this afternoon. Scorpions will miss the services of Damaris Namulanda, Juliet Gitau and Pauline Naise, all ruled out owing to injuries.

Tomorrow, Daystar Falcons will be seeking a second win of the season, having triumphed over Mount Kenya University, who will be hoping to make it two wins on the trot when they play Sliders, while MKU will take on Vikings in another women’s match.

In the men’s national league, National Youth Service (NYS) will tackle Multimedia University while Kabarak will host Daystar in another encounter.