Handball: Can Sharks end Queens' dominance

In one of the eagerly awaited fixtures of the Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) women's league, holders Nairobi Water Queens take on Ulinzi Sharks in leg one of the ten-team league on Saturday 10 September. 

Both sides remain unbeaten in the league and will be looking to keep that streak going. The soldiers aim their guns at the defending champions for a maiden victory against the Jack Ochieng-led side. 

"For us to win, we will have to play good defense. We want to maintain top place and continue our unbeaten run so we will give no chance to Sharks to get into the game. We have a crown to defend and we will keep it that way," offered coach Ochieng. 

The military side has become the biggest challengers to Queens in the last two seasons but are yet to bag a win despite coming ever so close. 

Ochieng remains confident that despite the likelihood to miss two key players in Brenda Musambai and Mitchell Oyoo, who are out with injury, his squad depth has their absence covered. 

"I believe in all my players so I am not worried about missing any player. Musambai is nursing an ankle injury sustained before the break whilst Oyoo's is a recurring issue," added Ochieng. 

If their last meeting, during the Super Cup final, is anything to go by, this fixture will be a thriller.as Sharks lost by a goal at 29-28 in that last meeting.

In other women's league matches, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology will be chasing their third victory as they take on Nairobi County Council (NCC) in their seventh match of the season. 

The county council side, in their first season in the league after an absence that stretched years are yet to bag a win and will be keen to end the drought in their sixth match of the league. 

Meanwhile, Kenyatta University (K.U) open the season against newbies New Hope who are winless in six matches. The varsity side is making a late entry into the league due to their school program which had students on long holiday. 

In the men's league, Young City continue their hunt for a maiden league victory with a clash against JKUAT men who have won one of their seven outings. 

Elsewhere, Thika, fresh from their convincing win against Boomerang on the weekend are back in action, welcoming K.U to the 2022 league season.

The latter had a good run last season, making it to the playoffs but it remains to be seen if they can hold on to that performance given some players have already exit the team after graduating. 

Saturday fixtures

Men 

Young City vs JKUAT- 10.30am 

Thika vs K.U - 15 pm 

NCPB vs T.U.K - 16.30 pm 

Women 

K.U vs New Hope - 09 am 

JKUAT vs NCC -12 pm 

Ulinzi Sharks vs Nairobi Water Queens - 13.30pm