Orange out to regain top spot in hockey league

Orange Telkom celebrate after scoring against Kenyatta University when they played premier ladies at Citypark on 02/07/2016. Orange scored 10-0. PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE

Telkom Orange return to action this weekend in hunt for maximum points in the Kenya Hockey Union women’s league title chase.

The 18-time national champions have two matches lined up and victory in both will see them leap to the summit of the table. Currently second on the log with 10 points from four matches they have no room for mistakes as they seek to defend their title.

However, the African queens are expected to have it easy when they take on bottom placed Daystar University this afternoon at City Park Stadium. Orange will capitalise on Daystar’s poor show that has seen them lose all their matches and conceding 20 goals and are yet to score after five outings. Their second tie will be against Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

Orange coach Josephine Ataro told Feverpitch they are determined to win both matches convincingly. "We have to make the best out of hese matches because the league is tightly contested and a slight mistake might cost us. The title race is still wide open and only the best will grab the top honours hence the need to up our game,’’Ataro said.

In another women’s tie, last year’s runners up Sliders play Vikings today. Sliders who played to a barren draw against United States International University of Africa denting their title hopes will be hoping to bounce back and register their third victory of the season.

In the men’s premier league contest former champions Kenya Police will play Greensharks in the battle to decide who tops pool B. Separated by three points a victory for second-placed Police will see them tie on 13 points with Sharks and only goals will be the difference between the two sides. Nonetheless, a victory for Sharks will see the law enforcers remain second and book a date with arch-rivals and reigning champions Butali Sugar Warriors in the knockout stage.