Police return sends shock-waves in Hockey League

Kenya Police return in the Kenya Hockey League action after seven weeks of absence has sent shock waves across the competition with leaders Butali Warriors now under pressure.

Police picked maximum points after posting double victories against Western Jaguars and USIU whom they beat 4-0 and 1-0 respectively to cut the gap between them and leaders Butali to six points.

Warriors, the 2015 champions, have played 15 matches and top the table with 42 points, with Kenya Police coming second with 36 points with 13 matches.

Police took a seven week break after they made a request to the Kenya Hockey Union to postpone some of their matches owing to a financial crunch.

Butali and Police have each lost only just one match this season and are scheduled to meet at their final fixture, a match that may determine the league winner.

But even as the rivalry intensifies, Police head coach Frederick Masibo has criticised the match referee who took charge of their weekend game against Western Jaguars accusing him of poor officiating.

“They are booking my players for very slight mistakes. They want to bring us down by ensuring we lose the remaining matches, “lamented Masibo.

Masibo is however bullish that his charges can recover the lost ground by winning their rescheduled matches.

“Our opponents have played more games than we have but we will catch up. We will take each match at a time and I’m confident we are going to defend the title,” Masibo told Citizen Digital.

The law enforcers had a bumper weekend as the huge Saturday win was followed up by a 1-0 victory over United States International University on Sunday at City Park.

USIU men who are at position eight in the 12- team league created more chances winning seven penalty corners but failed to convert.

“We could have scored at least three out of the seven penalty corners we created. My players need to be more aggressive before the opponent’s goal,” USIU coach Tom Olal told Citizen Digital.

Despite losing to Kenya Police, Olal said his team’s dream of finishing in the top-four is still on course.

Meanwhile, Nakuru men and Western Jaguars are vat the tail end of the log with 12 and eight points respectively out of 14 matches.

Collated Results

Sunday

ParkRoad Badgers 2-2 SIKH Union Nairobi

Saturday:

Kenya Police 4-0 Western Jaguars

KCAU 2-2 Wazalendo