Hockey: Kisumu Lakers keen to bounce back after poor start

Lakers midfielder Alice Owiti (right) in action against Strathmore University's Vickline Achieng during a KHU Premier League match in Kisumu.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Lakers Hockey Club have played down doubters that are ruling them out of the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Premier League title contention after a poor start to the 2022 season.

The Kisumu-based club have lost two matches so far in their four matches played and Team Manager JP Otieno believes they still have a chance to compete with the top leading teams.

Speaking to the Standard Sports after losing 1-0 to league leaders Strathmore University Scorpions on Sunday, Otieno said they still have a lot of matches to play and they believe they can get wins.

Despite losing the two games at their home backyard which used to be a tough place to play, Otieno said the lack of playing for the past three months dismantled their chemistry and they are not going to give up.

"We had not played for the past three months owing to our five players featuring or the national team at the Commonwealth Games but we are slowly picking up."

"We really wanted a win against Strathmore but we were unlucky after conceding a late goal and having our equalizer ruled out. The dream remains the same, to compete with the best and I believe we can still catch up with the leaders," said Otieno.

Lakers are sixth on the seven-club log on four points after four matches.

Leaders Strathmore registered their fifth straight victory of the season in the women's league after narrowly seeing off struggling Lakers 1-0 at Simba Club.

Strathmore are top of the log with 15 points and are yet to concede a single goal this season.

Apart from their win against Lakers, they have defeated Sliders (2-0), Wolverines (1-0), Sailors (2-0) and defending champions Blazers (2-0).

Defending champions Blazers on the other side closed the gap between them and Strathmore to within two points after a double weekend victory at City Park.

Veteran defender Terry Masibo converted a penalty corner in the fifth minute to beat Amira Sailors 1-0 and close in on the university students.

The record champions had seen off Dutch Group Flowers (DFG) Wolverines 3-0 Saturday.

Blazers are now second with 13 points from six matches, two points behind leaders Strathmore but having played a game more than the students.

United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Spartans, who were not in action over the weekend, complete the top three position with seven points from three matches.