Expectations high as Equity join KHF league

Excitement is almost palpable after Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) competitions department released this season’s first leg fixtures with Equity Bank included as a new team.

With the bankers joining the men’s league, competition is expected to go a notch higher as they have the financial muscle to sign the best in the craft and become a team to beat right form the get go.

While most of the details about the squad composition or even the technical bench have been kept under wraps, sources privy to the team’s development indicate that the moneybags have splashed out for experience both on the technical bench and playing unit.

The ‘secrecy’ is, however, short-lived as the team is scheduled to play their first match of the season, that threw off on 29 July, on 13 August, opening their campaign against another debutant in Kimilili-based Wakanda.

As of today, impeccable sources indicate that the team has signed 15 players, all who have played for other league side in the past.

Meanwhile, the league has an unimpressive start on 29 July with three walkovers witnessed.

Men’s matches got action under with National Youth Service (NYS) benefitting off of Wakanda’s no-show as did General Service Unit (GSU). Hunters, a new outfit in the league, were also awarded a walkover against Waterbucks.

The only match that was decided in the court on that opening day saw school boys Inspired go down to Black Mamba 36-26.

Holders National Cereals and Produce (NCPB) opened their title defense on 30 July with a 38-12 victory over Hunters. Thika Engineers benefitted from a walkover against Wakanda while Inspired stunned Strathmore 32-31. GSU picked a 40-26 victory over NYS.

In the second weekend of action, all teams scheduled to play were in action with the favourites taking the day. In the men’s league, holders NCPB subjected Inspired to a 36-25 defeat as Strathmore recovered from their first weekend defeat foe a 37-15 win over NYS.

No time to waste as Wafalme Stars hit ground running

GSU and Thika Engineers were also on the winning side as they beat Daystar 35-23 and Inspired 38-29 respectively.

The women’s league was also on this weekend with holders Nairobi Water opening their account with a48-18 dominance over Daystar Falcons.

NCPB got their season off to a winning start with a 41-20 performance against NYS. The youth service side had nothing on Water on Sunday 6 August as they lost 56-13 with NCPB subjecting Falcons to their second loss of the season at 50-16.