Butali Warriors attack Nakuru at City Park: Butali Sugar beat visitors to revive title hopes

Africa Cup Championship at City Park. Butali Zack Aura during the Africa Cup Championship at City Park.ON 11/01/2017 PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE

Former league champions bounce back from loss to record convincing win.

Former Kenya Hockey Union men's Premier League champions Butali Sugar Warriors yesterday bounced back from Saturday's loss to Greensharks to beat Nakuru 4-1 at City Park. 

Goals from Seth Oburu, Lawrence Okubasu, Maxwell Fuchaka, and Zack Aura gave the 2015 winners the much-needed victory.

Warriors have not been at their best this season and have already lost two matches - one against league leaders Kenya Police in the first leg and against Sharks on Saturday. 

Despite the not-so-impressive show by the former champions, Warriors captain Kenneth Nyongesa remained optimistic of a good finish, saying they need to make the best out of their remaining matches.

"We are having a slow season but all is not lost because we still have more games to play," Nyongesa said.

Not ready to fall for a second time in two days, Warriors began their goal hunt with urgency as they pressed deeper into Nakuru's territory.

Their efforts bore results in the fifth minute when Oburu blasted home past Nakuru goalkeeper Dennis Mageto to give his side an early lead. 

Perhaps having learnt the hard way in their loss against Sharks, Warriors left nothing to chance and intensified their search for more goals. In their Saturday loss, Warriors scored first but failed to consolidate their lead before they were severely punished as Sharks utilised their chances to snatch the victory.

Yesterday, though, it was different. Okubasu outpaced the Nakuru defence before slotting past Mageto in the 11th minute for a 2-0 advantage in the first quarter.

Nakuru seemed stronger in the second period but failed to complete the job as their chances went begging.

Warriors defence, led by Nyongesa, defended well and ensured their side maintained their two goal-lead as both sides settled for a goalless second quarter.

After the break, Nakuru fought harder but their efforts were met by an unrelenting Warriors defence that was determined to guard the deserved lead. David Pewa pulled one back for Nakuru seconds before the end of the third quarter.

On resumption, Fuchaka, who captained the men's national team that finished fourth at the Africa Cup of Nations, restored Warriors two-goal advantage in the 47th minute.