Butali Warriors, Kenya Police lead title race as KHU league hits midseason

Parkroad Badgers' Mathias Gularire (left) dribble ball by George Mutira of Butali Warriors during Kenya Hockey Premier League at City Park Hockey Stadium on Sunday, April 4, 2022. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Defending champions Butali Sugar Warriors and Kenya Police are leading the race to determine the 2022 Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Men’s Premier League after nine rounds played.

Butali are currently leading the standings with 23 points and are unbeaten after failing to lose any of their nine matches played so far.

The sugar men have registered seven wins and two draws.

Butali has defeated Wazalendo (6-2), Sharks (3-0), Parkroad (2-0), Strathmore (2-1), USIU (1-0), Mombasa Sports Club (3-1) and Sailors (2-1).

Butali are now one point ahead of rivals Kenya Police.

Police have also bagged seven wins but have lost one match and drawn one. They sit second with 22 points.

Wazalendo are third with 14 points as Strathmore University close the top four with 13 points jointly with Western Jaguars.

Jaguars finished the first leg strongly last Sunday after third victory in a row moved them to fifth in the log with 13 points.

Jaguars wins against Mombasa Sports Club (7-0), Parkroad (1-0) and Greensharks (2-1) have moved the club up after a poor start to the season.

The Kakamega based club started the season on the back foot after registering three defeats in their opening five matches.

Elsewhere, Strathmore University are still top of the women’s Premier League table with their four opening wins placing them comfortably ahead of the seven-log team with 12 points.

The women’s league remains suspended due to majority of players taking part in the national team’s preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Games set for UK.

Strathmore are followed by USIU-Africa who have seven points from three matches same as Blazers.

Kisumu’s Lakers Hockey Club are fourth with four points.