Kenya Police ramp up title pressure: Law enforcers, Butali lead the pack in KHU premier league title chase

Men's Premier Sailors vs Kenyatta University Chase Sailors Moses Omamo(l) with the ball as Kenyatta University Griffins Okombe(l) blocks when they played Premier Men at City Park, Nairobi. ON 29/07/2017(Jenipher Wachie, Standard)

Parkroad Badgers caught in Police crossfire as hunt for league honours intensify

Law enforcers, Butali lead the pack in KHU premier league title chase.

Red-hot Kenya Police thrashed Parkroad Badgers 5-1 to maintain their seven-point lead as the first leg of this season’s Kenya Hockey Union League ended at the weekend at City Park Stadium.

With the victory, the former men’s Premier League champions ensured they remained on course to reclaiming the title they lost to Butali Sugar Warriors in 2014.

Police also maintained their unbeaten run, ending the first round having dropped only two points in their 3-3 draw to Wazalendo. They top the table with 40 points and have also scored an impressive 44 goals.

Samuel Wokila, Amos Barkibir, Titus Kimutai, Felix Okoth, and Samuel Oungo netted one goal each for the law enforcers while Ian Langat scored the Badgers’ consolation goal in the dying minutes of the game.

Police coach Kenneth Kaunda said despite the good margin they still had a long way to go.

“It’s too early to even think that the trophy is within our reach. We have to maintain the spirit and ensure we fight to the end because teams will come back stronger in the second leg,” Kaunda said.

Former holders Butali Warriors regained their footing to also end the first leg on a high with a 3-0 win over Kenya College of Accountancy University.

Veteran Zack Aura’s return after missing a number of matches boosted the 2015 champions. Derrick Kuloba, Constance Wakhura, and Aura scored for the sugar men.

Butali had played to a 1-1 draw against Parklands last weekend failing to reduce the gap between them and bitter rivals Police. They have 33 points from 10 wins, three draws, and a loss to Police. Greensharks complete the top three with 30 points.

Defending champions Strathmore University Gladiators were top gainers of the weekend as they beat their hosts, Nakuru, 5-2 to move into the top 10. The Gladiators are now eighth with 17 points, 23 less than league leaders Police.

Leading from the wrong side of the table are debutantes Technical University of Kenya.

In the women’s contest champions Telkom are on top with 30 points and United States International University of Africa Spartans are second with 25.

Strathmore Scorpions are third with 23.

In the men’s National League, the battle for premier league promotion is between Mombasa and Kisumu-based clubs.

Mvita XI top Group A with 20 points while Kisumu Youngsters are at the summit of Group B with 21.