This weekend marks the start of the 2023 Kenya Hockey Union men’s Premier League, with Western Jaguars and Kenya College of Accountancy University (KCAU) facing tough opponents.
Jaguars will host defending champions Butali Sugar Warriors at Eregi Teachers College in Kakamega County, while KCAU will battle 2016 champions Strathmore University Gladiators at the City Park Hockey Stadium in Nairobi.
KCAU, under the guidance of former international Willis Otieno, is returning to the top tier after being promoted from the Super League at the end of last season with Sikh Union.
They will then face Greensharks, who have yet to secure a win this season, on Sunday.
Jaguars, who finished second to Police in the recently concluded Vaisakhi International Tournament at Sikh Union in Nairobi, will face Butali, who are unbeaten in their first three matches of the campaign.
Butali leads the standings with seven points, while Sikh and Sailors are joint seconds with six points from four matches, but Sikh has a superior goal difference.
Jaguars coach Michael Malungu is confident that his team is ready to win the elusive title, saying, “I think the narrative of us being a young team should now cease.
We have gained experience in the league and more so during this year’s Africa Cup for Clubs Champions and the Vaisakhi event.”
In the women’s Premier League matches champions Strathmore Scorpions will play against Kenyatta University (KU) Titans, while former champions Blazers will take on Dutch Flower Group Wolverines. The Blazers will then play KU on Sunday.
All matches will take place at City Park, except for the University of Eldoret (EoU) versus Nakuru men’s match, which will be held at the EoU grounds.
