Ondara confident Black Mamba will win Handball double

With the Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) men's league title sealed, former champions Black Mamba can only finish second in the regular league but the team's top scorer Paul Ondara says there is more to play for.

The side has shifted focus to the East and Central Africa Handball Federation (ECAHF) Championship set for 28 November to 4 December in Dar es Salaam and as they prepare for their final league match against Ulinzi Handball Club, they are using they are also getting ready for the regional tourney. 

"That final match has a lot of pressure, despite the league title having been won by National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). We knew it would be an uphill task to clinch the league when we lost the season-opening match against Buccaneers as our league is always closely contested,"

Handball champions NCPB shift focus to regional title

"However, the team has been getting better with each match and I believe we have a squad that can challenge for the ECAHF title as well as the Super Cup. We will also be going for victory against Ulinzi to seal second place and ensure we get a favourable draw in the Super Cup," said Ondara. 

The Martin Abunde-coached side has won the regional title before, in 2009, and also managed a double, winning the Super Cup and league title in 2017. 

"The team has undergone a rebuilding process after we lost key players after the 2017 season but I believe we are in better form than we were in back then.

However, we have had minor issues with our defence and are perfecting that ahead of the tough tasks ahead. Our last appearance at the ECAHF championship was in 2018 in Zanzibar and we finished second. I believe we will do one better this time around," Ondara added 

So far Mamba, NCPB men and women's teams as well as Nairobi Water Queens have confirmed participation in the Dar es Salaam tourney.