Hockey league: Absence of star player Okeyo hurt team, Police coach laments

Hockey league: Absence of star player Okeyo hurt team,  Police coach laments

Evan Ludiali (L) of Western Jaguars in action with Titus Kimtai of Kenya Police during their Hockey Premier League match at City Park Stadium on April 03, 2022. Photo/Sportpicha/Citizen Digital

Kenya Police head coach Patrick Mugambi has attributed their 2-1 defeat to Western Jaguars in a men's hockey league match to absence of midfielder Willis Okeyo

Derrick Juma and Bethuel Musambu were on target for Jaguars while Titus Kimtai hit one for law enforcers

According to Mugambi, the absence of midfielder Willis Okeyo cost the team while arguing his aging squad wasn't able to contain the young upcoming Western based stars, as they used their energy to sail through for victory.

 

"Our own mistakes cost us. The lapse in the midfield, all the way to the defense, forced us to concede," explained Mugambi.

"I had no one to contain the midfield due to the absence of Willis. Our opponents used their youthfulness to pin us down. We were not able to move at the same pace as them," he added.

His counterpart Michael Malungu applauded his boys for victory as he urged them to work as a team.

 

It was sweet revenge for Jaguars, following 2-1 loss against the law enforcers; last time they met, during the Jamuhuri Tournament late last year.

 

According to Malungu, he had to emphasize on scoring more goals, in order to seal the victory.

Ahead of their next two home fixtures, he’s calling for team work in order to collect maximum points.

"Today we played well. I had to rectify my midfield following our first fixture. ,” he said. “We had to change our strategy at halftime for a win. We had lapses in the third quarter that saw our opponents equalize," said Malungu.

Victory saw Jaguars move to fifth on log, level on points with Police and Sharks.

In another late staged match, Festus Onyango bagged a brace as defending champions Butali defeated Parkroad Badgers 2-0.

They sit top on standings with six points, after accumulating maximum points in their first two fixtures.

On Saturday, Jaguars fell prey to Sailors 3-0. The Sailors sit second on log with four points, one ahead of Jaguars. They host Greensharks on Saturday while Jaguars will be welcoming USIU and Wazalendo in Kakamega.

 

Jaguar will host USIU and Wazalendo in Kakamega over the weekend while Police host MSC men at City Park.

 

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Kenya Police Jaguars Hockey league

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