Hockey: Champs Butali Warriors and Telkom top KHU league

Hockey Parkroad vs Western Jaguar at City Park 28/07/2018(Jenipher Wachie, Standard)

Former Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) men’s Premier League champions Butali Sugar Warriors remain on course to retaining their title.

Butali are top of league standings with 27 points from nine wins and one loss. In the women’s title chase, 20-time winners Telkom lead the log with 18 points after winning all their first leg matches.

Men’s defending champions Kenya Police are second, tied on points with Butali from 10 rounds of matches but with an inferior goal-difference.

Butali, who are seeking to recapture the title they last won in 2015, have been impressive at the opponents’ goal scoring 28 goals and conceding seven.

Police on the other hand have fell short in defence, conceding 14 goals despite scoring 30. With only one first leg match remaining for both Butali and Police, the two, who have always engaged in a two-horse race, will be engaged in a neck-and-neck chase for this season’s trophy.

Butali captain Kenneth Nyongesa said they are not going to relent because they want to go all the way.

“Our main objective is to reclaim our title. We have been training a lot and each one of us is determined to make it happen,” Nyongesa said.

“We are on top but with same points as Police. Our aim is to break the tie and fight harder in the second leg.”

Wazalendo are third with 19 points from six wins, one draw and four losses.

Greensharks, who started on a winning note including a 4-3 win over Police, slowed down are currently fourth with 17 points from 10 outings.

The Gladiators, who won the 2016 title, are fifth, one point a drift Greensharks.

Parkroad Badgers, Western Jaguars and Nakuru are bottom in the standings.

Badgers are last in the 12-team league with six points from one win, three draws and seven losses.

Jaguars are 11th, one point better than Badgers. Nakuru are courting relegation despite their 4-0 win over Parklands at the weekend. [Elizabeth Mburugu]