L. MathekaRude awakening for Ulinzi Sharks as Rangers shoot them down
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 19.02.23. | 17:27
The top four teams in the women's league qualify for the Super Cup
One of the most anticipated Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) women's league clashes going by Rangers Women HC's recent form was played on Sunday 19 February and, as expected, it lived up to its billing.
Up against Ulinzi Sharks who had lost just one match before the clash on Sunday, Rangers were seen as the underdogs, but not quite as they won the match 32-29.
The military side had won the first leg match by four goals and the Gerald Juma-led Rangers had come for revenge. From the get go, it was obvious that neither side wanted to drop points as the race for the title and Super Slots intensifies.
Picking from where they left in Saturday's match against Amazon Martha Lavendah and Naomy Muyoka led the scoring with 13 and nine respectively and Sharks had no reply for their threat.
"This was a tough match and my players fought for the win but that was never to be. We had prepared for this and came in confident of a win. Rangers are a strong side and when they went ahead it was difficult for us to claw back. I cannot say the players were complacent," offered Sharks' head coach Emmanuel Kieti.
Sharks' Sarah Wasike who leads the team's offense managed ten goals but partner in crime Caren Lutengeya who is normally a goal poacher for the military side was restricted to three goals as Euphrasia Mukasia scored six for Kieti's charges.
At half time, Rangers led 19-17 and the match looked redeemable for Sharks. However, Juma's charges kept their foot firmly on the pedal and held on for the win.
"Nothing is lost yet, we still have an opportunity to fight for the title. We have picked valuable lessons from this match and we will better prepared for the remaining matches.
It was a good wake-up call for the team to take every match seriously. We will fight for wins in the remaining matches and then leave everything else to fate as we cannot control how the season pans out," added Kieti.
In their second match of Sunday, Rangers easily dispensed Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) 32-19 to move second on the log with 29 points after 18 matches.
In the men's league Juma had to lead his men's side in two more matches on Sunday as the Kimilili-based men played JKUAT men and Technical University of Kenya (TUK).
The visitors picked a 31-17 win over JKUAT before playing for a 28 goals draw in the other match.
