Butali Warriors close to hockey title

Hockey- Parklands vs Butali Sugar. Butali warriors Godfrey Wakachuka with the ball as Parklands give chase when they played premier league at City Park. Butali scored 4-1. ON 05/09/15 PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE

Champions Butali Sugar Warriors are one match away from retaining their men’s hockey Premier League gong. Warriors beat Greensharks 2-1 in a scrappy playoffs match played yesterday at City Park Stadium.

They square it out with former titleholders Strathmore University Gladiators who had earlier on edged 2013 winners Kenya Police 3-2 in post-match penalties at the same venue to book their finals slot. Police who were hoping to make the finals will play Sharks in third place playoffs before the title decider next weekend.

International Barnabas Odhiambo and Seth Oburu scored for Butali while Victor Osiche slotted in Sharks consolation goal. Butali coach Cliffe Okello attributed the victory to individual brilliance. “It was a scrappy affair and we were pushed all the way. I must say that we needed something special to win today’s tie and individual brilliance earned us a place in the finals and a chance to fight for our honour to the tail end,” Okello said

He added that he was hoping for a more entertaining encounter in next weekend’s final. Warriors dominated the opening minutes of the game as Zack Aura, Frank Wanangwe and Emmanuel Simiyu terrorized Sharks defence while forcing them in their own territory threatening to score early goals.

However, poor finishing gave Sharks a life line in a game that could have been won in the first half had the trio of Aura, Wanangwe and Simiyu had lived up to their billing. Warriors controlled all aspects of the game in ball possession and circle penetration they were unmatched but failed to complete the job as Sharks hanged on.

Butali lacked in conversion failing to convert seven penalty corners that they had secured as they went to the break on a barren draw.