Hockey: Tough weekend for Blazers as they drop more points

It was a dull weekend out for Kenya Hockey Union Women’s Premier League champions Blazers Hockey Club as they secured two points from a possible six.

Yesterday, the record league champions played to a one-all draw against Amira Sailors having registered an identical outcome against United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Spartans on Saturday.

Just like their game against Spartans, Blazers once again found themselves trailing after Sandra Vodoti sounded the board four minutes into play.

Aurellia Opondo restored parity in the eighth minute through a penalty corner conversion. Both teams failed to break each other’s defence for the remainder of the match.  

In the men’s title contest, USIU-A ended Butali Warriors’ perfect run as they subjected them to a humiliating 6-1 beating. The students, who are chasing their maiden league title, were fired up in the second half scoring five out of their six goals in the last 16 minutes of the game.

USIU-A coach John Kabuu attributed his charges’ impressive performance this season to the exposure they gained during the Africa Cup of Club Championship held in Egypt earlier this year.

“God willing, our target is to clinch the title this season and I must say that if we keep pushing ourselves then we will make it happen. We are benefitting from the exposure at the club championships,” Kabuu said.  

Robinson Omutekete put USIU-A in the lead 12 minutes into play which would turn out to be the only of the first half. The students protected their lead even as Warriors tried to score an equalize, but in vain. However, trouble started for Butali seconds to the end of the third quarter when Lawrence Makhatsa beat goalkeeper Eugene Sifuna to make it two for the students.

The fourth quarter was a nightmare for Warriors as USIU-A terrorised them scoring three goals in a span of six minutes to take a commanding 5-0 lead.

Danstone Barasa and Benardicto Cheruiyot scored in the 47th and 49th minutes, while Omutekete completed his brace three minutes later.

Festus Onyango pulled one back for Butali in the 54th minute but the students were not done scoring as Hillary Odhiambo added their sixth four minutes to the whistle.