Wazalendo play down title chances despite strong start

Wazalendo Hockey Club head coach Fidhelis Kimanzi has played down the club’s chances of winning the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) men’s league title despite a bright start to the season that has seen the side win all their four opening matches to command an early lead in the summit of the league.

The South B- based team is the only side in the men’s top flight with a 100 percent record and currently top the league standings with 12 points after accumulating wins over Greensharks, Nairobi Simba, Strathmore University Gladiators and Chase Sailors.

With the league now taking shape, champions Butali Sugar Warriors and 2017 champions Kenya Police have already dropped points but despite their red-hot form Kimanzi has called for patience as the season unfolds.

“Our main aim is to develop our players and let them the challenge in the national level and thereafter we can shift our focus to the continental stage. Right now, we are not thinking about the league but if we win then that will be an icing on the cake,” Kimanzi told Citizen Digital.

Kimanzi has also hailed teamwork as the main aspect that has driven his team to a formidable side it is at the moment.

“Success is from the hard work of the players and especially the fact that they have been together for the past two to three seasons is also another plus for us. Moreover, the boys are responding very well to the training methods we are initiating,” Kimanzi added.

Wazalendo were however forced to dig deep to earn maximum points on Sunday as they needed a last-gap goal to overcome a stubborn Chase Sailors 4-3 with the side conceding for the first time this season.

Elsewhere, Police horrible defending continued on Sunday as they edged Parklands 3-2 and although they remain third on the log with 10 points, they have conceded a whooping 10 goals in five matches.

On the women front, debutants Lakers survived a tricky weekend test as they bagged two points off the best two teams in the league -defending champions Telkom and United States International University (USIU-A).

The Kisumu-based team held USIU to a barren draw on Saturday before Jackline Mwangi’s brace denied them three points as they were forced to a 2-2 draw.