Easy points for Kisumu Queens as JKUAT dishes out walkover

Kisumu Queens Hockey Club are three points and five goals richer after being handed a walkover by JKUAT Ladies, who failed to show up for their Saturday fixture.

JKUAT were scheduled to lock horns with the Royals at Kisumu Simba Club in a Kenya Hockey Union Women’s Super League match starting at 1.00 pm, but 15 minutes past the kick-off time, they were nowhere to be seen.

"As per the rules, they (JKUAT) lose the match on the basis of five goals and three points," the match's technical officer, Esther Adolwa, told Mozzart Sport.

"Queens did not even have to knock the ball; as long as the opponent was not available past the kickoff time, the rules are clear—it's a walkover," she added.

Queens head coach Brian Aduda had mixed feelings about the whole situation: happy to have bagged the three points but disappointed that his charges could not taste action after a week of intense preparation.

"The points push us towards promotion to the Premier League, and we appreciate it but would have wanted to earn them on the field," Aduda, a former Kenya international, said.

He revealed that JKUAT failed to show up because they had other commitments. "They should have communicated in advance and sought permission from the KHU to have the game postponed because they know the league's calendar."

Aduda took issue with the fact that JKUAT communicated with them through the team's vice captain. "It's not how it works because this is a managerial decision."

"Their request for us to play them twice in Nairobi was unfair because of the costs involved, and we were also not going to hand them home advantage twice," Aduda said.

Queens move to position four in the league, relegating JKUAT on a head-to-head basis as the two teams are now tied at 21 points each.

As they waited for their Sunday fixture against log leaders Sliders, Queens played a friendly match against themselves.

"The game tomorrow is not an easy one, so we need to be in top shape, but again, we don't need to tire the players, so they will play the friendly and go rest."

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