M. KisengeHow trailblazing Scorpions cut Blazers dominance in 2022 Kenya Hockey Union women's Premier League
Reading Time: 6min | Sun. 25.12.22. | 13:00
Hockey action resumed this year after almost two seasons of inactivity
The Strathmore University Scorpions team will forever have 2022 etched in their minds for successfully breaking Blazers dominance in the Kenya Hockey Union that had stretched for more than a decade.
Blazers had ruled the league for years to an extend of raising the bar to winning the title without conceding a goal as the target for each term as opposing teams staged minimal or no competition in the race to lay hands on ultimate prize.
The pressure to give Blazers a run for their money if not denying them a title that appeared like their birthright was from time to time channeled to the rest of the teams who had been accused of watching the latter run away with the crown each season.
However, we will have a new champion this year as Scorpions are the champions in waiting having garnered an unassailable tally, two rounds to the conclusion of the season that is projected to have its curtains fall on January 29.
Scorpions who had to content with the runner up position in the past years have played ten matches thus far, winning nine duels and sharing spoils once.
They have 28 points against their name and could finish a season unbeaten should they emerge victorious in the remaining two rounds of the season that kicked off this year after almost two years of inactivity.
The club’s head coach Meshack Senge attributes the success of the team to the donkey work her girls have been putting in training, the patience they have had over the years and apt training.
Senge who is glad to have guided Scorpions to their maiden league title says the only remaining bit in their blueprint for the season is to finish without tasting defeat.
“I really can’t quantify the amount of hard work I and the girls have put in the season. We have been working hard, planning meticulously and I am glad that we will crowned at the end of the season. The girls have been patient and bearing the right mindset throughout the matches we have played thus far. I really hope that we can finish the season unbeaten,” he said.
But how did the students outsmart Blazers who are likely to finish second should they win their final round of the season? Blazers are ranked third with 20 points, one shy of the second placed Lakers who have already wrapped their season.
Senge conceded that the Blazers are head and shoulders above the rest in the league given the quality and experience of their players.
The tactician revealed that changing the mentality of his players, giving the youth a chance and getting it right in as far as the tactical and technical aspects of the game is concerned successfully broke Blazers dominance.
“The Blazers team is littered with players who possess international experience and truth be told, it is not easy to beat them. Matching them is not a walk in the park. We had to work smart by maximizing on our potentials and ensuring that the players are mentally ready for each and every game,” he disclosed.
With the possibility of senior players ditching the club looming large, Senge is not afraid of their departure as he has his net already deep in a bid to catch new talents. Scorpions have been losing players who exit the team upon graduating.
“We have never been afraid of losing players at all for it is obvious that they will have limited time once they graduate. We are already scouting. We shall stand on the way of those who will wish to leave,” he said.
Senge who doubles up as the head coach to the men’s team that is christened as Gladiators said delivering the women’s title and at the same time chasing glory in the other category was not easy.
The gaffer won the men’s Premier League with Gladiators in 2016.
“It is not easy when it comes to striking a balance in the two. The needs of the two teams differ but the passion keeps me going and enables me to handle the two seamless. I also understand the terrain of our leagues. I am glad that I have now won the men’s and women’s Premier League with Strathmore teams,” he added.
While Scorpions headed to the festive season break already as champions, the men’s league is yet to produce a winner although Butali Warriors are three points away from victory.
Butali who are the defending champions need a paltry two points from the remaining rounds to be crowned the men’s champions. The sugar men who are unbeaten have played sixteen matches, winning eleven and sharing points four points to have forty points written against their name.
The 2017 champions Kenya Police are ranked second with 35 points and are holding on hope that Butali will falter in the remaining two rounds and consequently, pipe them to the title.
Should Butali win their next match when action resumes on January 7, they will join Scorpions in sealing tickets to the Arica Club Championships.
The national teams
Apart from the leagues, the national teams were also in action with the year, notably the women’s who participated in the Commonwealth Games held between July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham.
The team that is commonly known as Tausi qualified for the Games by virtue of finishing third in the Africa Cup of Nations held in January in Ghana.
Tausi had a rough ride to the ticket as they arrived late in the continental showpiece as they gave a walkover after failing to show up on time against Ghana.
The Kenyan girls nearly missed the competition due to late facilitation and had to plea with the organizers to reschedule the opening game against Zambia.
Despite the logistical hitch, Tausi managed to finish third and subsequently, punched a ticket to the Commonwealth Games.
Unlike the Africa Cup, the team’s preparation to the Commonwealth Games was decent but as expected the results on the pitch were not good given the opponents they were paired with in pool B.
Kenya was placed in the group against African champions South Africa, New Zealand, Scotland and Australia.
The team that is also known as the Blades lost 16-0 to New Zealand in the opening round followed by an 8-0 loss to Australia, 11-0 loss to Scotland and 15-0 loss to South Africa.
However, the team beat Ghana in the 9/10 playoff match on post-match penalties to secure a ninth-place finish. The winner of the playoff had to be decided in the penalties after playing for a 1-1 draw inside regular time.
Besides the women’s team, the men’s 5s team qualified for the FIH Hockey 5s World Cup set for Muscat, Oman in January 2024. Kenya beat Zambia 5-2 in the bronze medal match to finish third.
Despite arriving late for the qualifiers held mid-month in Ismailia, Egypt, the team due to logistical nightmares, the team beat all odds to qualify.
While much more happened on the pitch, the Union failed to conduct elections that were due for January.
The Union had scheduled to hold the polls on April 16 but according the Secretary General Wycliffe Ongori, the Sports Registrar stopped them on their tracks.
When pressed to shade more light, Ongori said the registrar was batter placed to explain why the elections did not take place.
