L. MathekaNCPB chase unbeaten title defense as Strathmore look to go above Mamba
Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 26.03.23. | 09:02
The six Super Cup places have already been decided.
It is a big day for the Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) men’s league no doubt!
For a start champions National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) are looking to stamp their authority when they take on archrivals Ulinzi HC in the sides’ final matches of the season.
The clash has all the ingredients of a thriller. Everyone is expected to bring their best arsenal to the fight and the fans are in for a threat, hopefully.
NCPB have already secured their league title, but there is more to play for. Another unbeaten run in lifting yet another title.
Nixon Oyaro’s Ulinzi have come short, yet again, in reclaiming the league title, but they would take pride in being the only side to subject the holders to a defeat this season if that were to happen.
What’s more, the millers are looking to give a perfect capping to a brilliant career on the courts to left winger Peter Omondi who has intimated that he will be hanging his boots at the prime age of 33 and a career spanning 19 years.
“Since I joined NCPB, I have never lost a league game against Ulinzi so I hope to continue the same trend. However, I know the game will be tough as usual. A good performance and a win for the team and my fans will be a perfect way to exit the stage after a lovely dance,” Omondi told The Star in a recent interview.
Skipper Timothy Kirimi maintains that the battle is not yet over while remaining thankful for yet another league title.
“We already bagged the league trophy but this game is important to us. Part of the reason we were nominated and became second runners up as team of the year at the annual SOYA Awards is by winning the league and the regional tourney unbeaten. We want to keep that record.
Ulinzi is a strong team, very fast and physical. Our plan is to disarm them using tactical moves and ensuring all our chances are utilized so as not to give them a chance for fast breaks,” Kirimi offered ahead of the crunch clash.
Gotta love @handball_kenya fans. @unit_general men up against @kdfinfo side Ulinzi HC is some fierce rivalry both on and off the court pic.twitter.com/S3g5F8peAk
— Matheka (@Lynmatheka) March 5, 2023
The military side has recalled to camp the lethal Gideon Mulwa who last featured for Oyaro’s side in November but has since been off the courts, at least on the league front, on other military duties. His towering figure will be an added advantage for the former champions.
The highly anticipated clash will be preceded by a match between former champions Black Mamba and Strathmore University. The two sides are separated by a single point with Mamba ahead on 28.
A win for Mamba moves them third on 30 points, dislodging General Service Unit (GSU) due to a superior goal difference. If the result goes in favour of Strathmore, they move fourth on 29 points, pushing Mamba down to fifth.
“We want to end the season on a high. We have not had the best of the seasons but with a good performance against Mamba we can redeem ourselves and extend the same to the Super Cup and the next season. We are planning to play the classical Strathmore way and hope to emerge winners,” the varsity side’s skipper Prevailer Muhani told Mozzart Sport.
