Hockey: Scorpions sting Spartans to consolidate second spot

Chase Sailors Kelvin Barasa(l)challenges Kenyatta University Griffins Okombe when they played Premier Men at City Park, Nairobi. ON 29/07/2017(Jenipher Wachie, Standard)

Chase Sailors cruise towards Premier League promotion

Gritty bankers eager to secure return to top flight hockey after being relegated to the newly formed men’s Super League this season.

Keen on not spending another season in men’s second Division, Chase Sailors have been gradually working on their return to the Kenya Hockey Union Premier League.

The bankers were casualties after the national body split the top tier and the National League to form the Super League.

Sailors, Kenyatta University (KU) Vultures, Technical University of Kenya (TUK) and the top nine teams from last season’s National League, formed the Super League.

The other nine teams, together with newcomers Bungoma Farmers and University of Eldoret, are currently battling for an elevation to the Super League next year.

They top men’s Super League standings with 31 points from 12 rounds of matches.

Sailors have won 10 matches, drawn once and lost once. They have also scored an impressive 34 goals and conceded 11 from their outings.

TUK are second with 24 from points from 14 matches; having won seven, drawn four and lost three.

Mvita XI , who are also seeking a return to the Premier League, are third with 18 points from eight outings, while Impala and Multimedia University (MMU) are fourth and fifth with 17 and 14 points respectively.

At the weekend, Sailors played to a 2-2 draw against MMU at City Park. Douglas Nyerere bagged a brace for Sailors, while Gideon Kimuge and Ivan Odhiambo scored one goal each for MMU.

Sailors’ goalkeeper and founder member Collins Asimba said their main objective is to return to the Premier League.

“We escaped relegation last season but are only playing in the lower league because it is newly formed and we fell victims after the number of clubs in the Premier League were reduced," said Asimba.

"When we were demoted at the beginning of the season, we set out on a promotion hunting mission and I’m glad we are on course to achieving our objectives."

In men’s Premier League title chase, former champions Butali Sugar Warriors had another successful weekend outing as they thrashed their hosts Western Jaguars 6-0 in Kakamega.

International George Mutira continued with his impressive form netting a hat-trick while Frank Wanangwe, Barnabas Odhiambo and Zack Aura scored one goal each for Butali.

The victory saw Butali move to 42 points, creating a 12-point difference between them and defending champions Kenya Police, who are second with 30 points.

Police have been missing in action and have four matches at hand. Victories in these encounters will see them restore parity between them and the 2015 winners.

Greensharks with 30 points are third, Wazalendo fourth with 24, while Nairobi Sikh Union are fifth with 22 points.

Women’s Premier League top contenders Strathmore University Scorpions edged United States International University of Africa (USIU-A)  Spartans 1-0 to register their sixth win of the season.

They are currently second on the log with 18 points, six less than leaders Telkom while USIU-A are third with 10 from eight rounds of matches.