Police march towards league title: Former champions yet to lose match this season

Hockey men premier Police vs green Sharks. Kenya Police player Oliver Ochenje with the ball when they played Green Sharks in the Men Premier League at City Park. Police scored 1-0. ON 09/04/2017 PHOTO; JENIPHER WACHIE

With seven rounds of matches left, there's no looking back for the men in uniform.

Red-hot Kenya Police are steadily but surely inching closer to scooping this season's Kenya Hockey Union men’s Premier League title.

The former champions are in their best form and remain unbeaten so far this season.

At the weekend, the law enforcers defeated United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) 1-0 to bag three crucial points that saw them maintain a 15-point gap between them and second-placed Greensharks.

With 61 points and seven rounds of matches to play, who will stop Police?

Team captain Oliver Echenje, who scored the all-important goal against the students, is confident of getting it right after three years of failed attempts.

“We have done it differently this season; teamwork and a desire to win has kept the fire burning and brought us this far,” said Echenje.

Police last won the title in 2013 before they relinquished it to Butali Sugar Warriors, who were winners in 2014 and 2015, when Police finished second.

Last year, Police finished third behind winners Strathmore University Gladiators and Butali Warriors, a position Echenje said did not impress them and that served as a wake-up call. Based on the current standings, 12 points is all Police require to bag the title.

“It was disappointing to finish third but we went back to the drawing board, identified our mistakes and agreed to work hard towards growing ourselves as individuals as well as a team," he said.

"I’m glad it bore fruit and we are better than we were last season."

Butali Warriors are third with 45 points from 19 outings, one point less than Greensharks, who have played 23 matches. The USIA-A team maintained their fourth spot despite suffering a double defeat at the weekend to Police and Parklands, while Wazalendo are fifth with 35.

In the women’s title chase, holders Telkom need just three victories out of their remaining five matches to be declared champions. This is after they defeated their closest opponents, USIU-A Spartans, 6-0 at the weekend.

Telkom have 45 points while Spartans have 34 with six matches to play. As it stands, Telkom need only nine points to retain their title.

Even if USIU-A win all their remaining matches, their best points tally will be 52 while three victories will give Telkom 54 points.

Amira Sailors and Strathmore Scorpions are third and fourth tied on 30 points each from 14 encounters.