The Dashui Spartans of Thika Sports Club cemented their place as the undisputed champions of the Nairobi District Captains League (NDCL), crushing the competition to secure their fourth consecutive NDCL Shield title.
Despite entering the season “on paper” as an ordinary mid-table team, the Spartans’ blend of strategic genius, dynamic pairing, and sheer grit propelled them to victory over Kenya Railways Golf Club’s (KRGC) Lions in the season-concluding finale on October 19, 2025.
The Thika-based champions stormed the KRGC nine-hole layout with one clear goal: to get two final wins needed to guarantee a successful title defence. They achieved this resoundingly, delivering a knock-out punch to their host and finishing the league with an overall total of 252.42 points, surpassing their ambitious target of 246 points. The final match at the KRGC course saw the Dashui Spartans earn 7.94 points away from home, securing the championship by a decisive margin of 10.61 points over the second-place KRGC (241.81).
The match itself was a strategic triumph. Of the 17 paired teams fielded by each club, the final score breakdown was: TSC (away) wins 4, KRGC (home) 12, all squares (draws) one per side, with TSC amassing a total of 22.6 plus a bonus point for a total of 23.6 points.
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Speaking after the victory, Nicholas Kabare, the Dashui Spartans Team Strategist, unveiled their three pillars of dominance.
Building a dynamic roaster: “Firstly, building a dynamic new team. Man, don’t we have a good team? Kabare stated. The focus was on recruiting new players who could gel and settle in easily, ensuring team coherence.
The any partner mentality: The team adopted the mantra, “pair me with anybody and I will bring points.” This confidence allowed the breaking of traditional pairing to create solid, complementary duos, proving that individual skill and adaptability were paramount.
And lastly, Strategic match-making: Kabare credited their meticulous study of opponents’ pairings, which allowed them to strategically match their own team to ensure maximum competitiveness, a tactic that has delivered consistent wins for four years straight.
Two players, in particular, stood out for Thika Sports Club this season: Dennis Gakuo and David Matano. Both players were instrumental in the team’s relentless pursuit of the title, securing wins both at home and away, and finishing the league as the Most Valuable Players with an impressive 39 points apiece.
The 2025 NDCL season saw intense competition among the 12 active teams. The final standings reflected the hard-fought battles throughout the year: Thika Sports Club (241.81), Kenya Railways Golf Club (252.42), Royal Nairobi Golf Club (231.86), and Machakos Golf Club (222.25).
Others were: Thika Greens Golf Resort, Ruiru Sports Club, Kiambu Golf Club, Limuru Country Club, Sigona Golf Club, Windsor Golf and Country Club, Vet Lab Sports Club and Karen Country Club.
With the Kenya Airforce Golf Club expected to join the league next season, and Migaa Golf Club slated for 2027, the Dashui Spartans will need to maintain their strategic edge if they hope to extend their historic dynasty.
The league’s competitiveness was highlighted by Kabare, who noted that KRGC, The Golf Park, and Royal Nairobi Golf Club were the “teams to watch” this year.
The Dashui Spartans’ commitment to their pathway – averaging 25.39 points at home and 13.36 points away – was the bedrock of their title defence