Champions Western Jaguars on a hunting mission in Nairobi

Butali Sugar’s Francis Kariuki and Bethuel Wanyonyi of Western Jaguar during Africa Cup for Men's and Women's club's champion at Sikh Union, Nairobi. Feb 13, 2023. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Reigning Kenya Hockey Union Men’s Premier League champions Western Jaguars will be on a maximum points hunt mission in Nairobi this weekend in a bid to boost their title defence campaign.

Jaguars, who have played their first three matches at their Eregi Teachers College grounds, are hoping to register a double victory when they take on Daikyo Heroes and Parklands Sports Club.

Today, they will take on Premier League debutants Daikyo at Dashmesh Stadium with the hope of registering their second win this season and then tackle their hosts, Parklands, tomorrow.

Currently placed seventh on the table with four points from a win, a draw and a loss, Jaguars will be looking to move up the standings and enhance their chances of retaining their title.

Daikyo will be looking to register their second win having proved that they are not the league’s punching bag with a 1-0 win against 2012 champions Nairobi Sikh Union.

Coach Michael Malungu said that they will be out to perform better than they did in their first three league encounters.

“We made some changes at the beginning of the season, bringing in young players who are featuring in the league for the first time, they are learning the ropes and getting better. Their performance has been improving with every match, and I believe that these two encounters will be no different,” Malungu said.

In a top-of-the-table clash, league leaders and former champions Butali Warriors will lock horns with second-placed United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) at the same venue.

Warriors, who are keen to reclaim the title they lost to Jaguars last season, are the only side yet to taste defeat this season. They top the table with 18 points, two more than the students who have 16. Tomorrow, former holders Kenya Police will play KCA University at USIU-A grounds.

In the Women’s Premier League title battle, champions Blazers Hockey Club will be out to maintain their unbeaten run and create a considerable gap at the top of the table.

They will take on USIU-A Spartans today and Amira Sailors tomorrow at Dashmesh Stadium. A double victory will see them accumulate 22 points, eight more than their closest challengers, Kisumu Queens and Lakers Hockey Club, who will not be in action this weekend.

In another encounter, newbies Twinkle Hockey Club will be chasing their first Premier League victory when they take on Sliders Hockey Club tomorrow. Twinkle are currently leading from the wrong side of the table with three points after six rounds of matches. They have drawn three and lost three and must start winning if they want to retain their spot in the top tier.

In the Women’s Super League, Mwiki Hockey Club will take on Gorillas Ladies at Jamhuri High School. Mwiki Secondary School students will be hoping for better results even as they prepare to make their East Africa games debut later in the year.