Low handicapped players face off again in Timau

Kenya Samurai Jamie Murray and Harry Griffiths (left) of Kenya Tusker Malt during 10 goal Kenya International at the Nairobi Polo Club on Friday, September 19, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

After a fruitful last weekend, three low handicapped players were at it again this time in the Marania Cup of the Northern Kenya Polo Championships at Timau Sports Club.

Handicaps-2 Bobby Kamani, Kelvin Jumba and Josephine Gauld are all out to catch the eyes of the National Handicap Committee (NHC) with a possibility of improving on their handicaps.

Handicap-2 Ben Yanda who missed last weekend’s championships has joined the trio in this weekend’s event. 

While playing for handicap 1.5 Dududtec team of Jamie Murray (4.5) and Chloe Warren (1), Kamani and Jumba were in a class of their own that saw them defeat Cruiser team of handicaps 2.5 Tiva Gross and Izzy Parsons, Gauld and handicap-2 Ben Yanda 4-3 in a tensioned-packed match.

With the support of Kamani and the two experienced players in the team, Jumba managed to score three goals and Kamani one in the first and third chukkas for them to pick maximum points in the first match of the three-match round robin series.

“We played very well and Kelvin (Jumba) and myself made for a great team and we are currently on 4-4. We have tomorrow(today) and Sunday to determine the final score. We worked very strategically the four goals for our team,” said Kamani.

On their part, Yanda scored a hattrick for his side in pursuit to have NHC elevate them to the next handicap status.

“Yanda and Gauld (Josephine) proved a great competition to us as we (Kamani and Jumba) did well to rid them off the ball that placed Jumba strategically to score more goals,” Kamani added.