Kuria confident Thika are on right KHF track

Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) made up for the inaction on the weekend with a day of matches on Monday, as Kenyans celebrated Huduma Day. 

On the cards were six matches that were played at the Nyayo Handball Court from 9am with the men and women's Leagues witnessing three each. 

Thika HC, in their quest for a sixth victory in ten appearances had to dig deep for a 26-21 victory against Spartans. This win saw them maintain seventh-place, tied on 12 points with General Service Unit (GSU) and Buccaneers who are sixth and eight respectively. 

Team captain Robert Kuria says that while their offense worked, to help them win the match, there's still work to be done on both ends. 

"It was a good game, one that exposed areas that needed improving especially on defense. We did not anticipate such a high-goal count from Spartans. We have to minimise the goals that opponents score. 

We are working to qualification for the super cup and this win contributes towards our target for the season. The win gives us good momentum for the remaining eight matches," offered Kuria. 

Meanwhile, Kelvin Mwangi and Wilson Gathimba top scored for new entrants Desert Scorpions to help the side bag their third victory, in a clash against Nairobi City Council (NCC). 

The duo managed nine and seven goals respectively as Scorpions won 35-29 with NCC's lacklustre first half denying them a possible victory. Zedrick Kibet scored to emerge the match's top scorer but it was not enough to guarantee his side victory. 

Scorpions started the match on a high, scoring 18 goals in the first half against NCC's 17, the latter missing many attempts that would have seen them lead the first half.

The second half worked in favour of the Martin Abunde-coached Scorpions as they went on to pick their third win in nine matches to place 14th in the 19-team league. 

The third match of the men's league saw Hospital Hill's Inspired HC make a return to the league after the break to feature in the Kenya Secondary School Sport Association (KSSSA) Games. 

The national school games champions were, however, no match for a revamped Kenyatta University (K.U) and they suffered their fifth loss in eight matches as the varsity side won 46-29. 

K.U have lost once in their eight appearances and are fifth on the league log that has holders National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) at the helm, tied on 22 points with second-placed Ulinzi HC. 

Meanwhile, the women's league had school girls Rising Stars, a side composed of students from Dagoretti Mixed, the Nairobi region school champions, make a return to the league.

The Andrew Juma-coched girls played two matches, convincingly winning their opening match 42-27 against newbies Daystar Falcons. 

They fell to New Hope in a closely contested match that ended 26-22. The third women's match saw Amazon beat Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) 25-18 for their fourth victory in nine matches.