It was a disappointing start for Kenya in the Six-Goal-Calvary Cup after falling to Zimbabwe 6.5-6 in their first match in Harare on Friday evening.
The three-day event involves three international matches that have been played on different days, with the final one set for this evening.
Kenya got it rough in the first match after it became clear that they were not well acquainted with the Zimbabwean horses in all four chukkas of the encounter.
However, they (Kenya) were keen not to repeat the same mistake in their two remaining matches that were set for yesterday and this afternoon.
Team captain Geoff Morley was not happy with the first results but promised to change the tide in their subsequent matches.
“We might have had a bad start by not figuring out the right horses, but we need to get the right ones today (yesterday) after the false start. We are out to do so (change the horses) and determined to come out victorious in our next matches,” Geoff told Standard Sports on phone from Harare.
Despite struggling with the Zimbabwean ponies, the Kenyans gave their best in the match, forcing the hosts to make a comeback twice before overcoming them.
The Kenyan goals were scored by Jose Craig (three), Will Millar (two) and Charley Morley (one), while Geoff made most of the assists.
The Zimbabweans had started the match at the advantage of half a fraction of a goal from their low handicap.
Geoff praised his teammates for a well-played game and told them to get focused in the remaining matches.
“What‘s important is how we play in the next two matches, and for the first match, kudos to you (the team),” he said.