MISSION FINALLY ACCOMPLISHED: Chase Sailors crown premier league promotion with national title

Buoyed by their promotion to the Kenya Hockey Union men's premier league, Chase Sailors defeated Bay Club 7-0 in men's national league final.

The league debutants braved the slippery playing surface as they controlled the match at City Park Stadium as curtains came down on the 2015 season.

Mutira led his side from the front with a hat-trick, while Francis Esikuri scored a brace before Titus Ngolia and Hesbon Galinga added a goal each for Sailors.

Sailors' captain George Mutira said it they were happy to have accomplished their mission of winning the title and being promoted to the premier league.

"We have had a very successful season. We have achieved all our objectives, so for us, it is mission accomplished," Mutira said, adding that they are looking forward to achieve the same feat in the top-tier.

"We want to maintain the same standards we have set and also win the title in our first attempt. However, we know it is not going to be an easy task because we will be up against the best clubs. In short, we need to be at our best," he said.

Ngolia opened the floodgates for Sailors in the 12th minute as he slotted in from a Mutira cross. Five minutes later, Esikuri hit the target after he successfully converted a penalty corner, before Mutira added the third three minutes to half time as the Sailors led 3-0 at halftime.

Upon resumption, Bay Club missed clear-cut chances of reducing the deficit with most of their efforts going astonishingly wide. The failure to utilise their chances proved costly as Mutira came calling as he added his second and fourth for his side in the 45th minute.

When Galinga sounded the boards in the 58th minute, the match was done and dusted. Esikuri and Mutira had little mercy on their hapless opponents, as they scored in the 65th and 66th minutes for that big win.

In men's premier league, Mvita XI and Mombasa Sports Club were relegated to pave way for Chase Sailors and Bay Club, who secured their promotion to the top league.

Despite beating Western Jaguars 1-0 in their last league encounter, it was a case of little too late for Mvita, who had already been demoted to the lower division league.

The demotion of the two Mombasa teams means the Coastal Region will not be represented in the premier league.

Like Bay Club, who were relegated last season, but have fought their way back to the premier league, they will have to work their way up in the new season.