Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Record Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) women’s premier league champions Blazers will use this weekend matches to prepare for next month’s Africa Club Championship planned for Egypt.

Coach Jos Openda’s side wrapped up their 22nd title last weekend and will, therefore, use this weekend’s only two remaining matches to get in shape for the continental quest.

They will play second-placed the United States International University Africa on Saturday before taking on former champions Sliders on Sunday both matches will be staged at the City Park Stadium.

Unbeaten champions top the eight-team log on 32 points with their closest rivals USIU sitting second with 28 points

“The girls despite winning the league will want to finish on the high. Our focus now is on the continental assignment,” said Openda.

Blazers who have been with a sponsor since telecommunication company Telkom cancelled its partnership at the end of July this year after sponsoring the team for 25 years are still hopeful of getting more sponsors.

“I think if we continue to play well other brands will want to be associated with us,” said Openda who last year guided the ladies their record-extending 10th continental title after defeating arch-rivals Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) 2-0 at Abuja National Stadium, Nigeria.

Meanwhile former men’s premier league champions Kenya Police are confident of pipping Wazalendo to second place in the log.

Coach Patrick Mugambi says the fact that the two sides will have to face each other is more reason to be optimistic.

The law enforcers are third on the 10-team log with 29 points with two matches remaining.  Second-placed  Wazalendo on 33 points having played a match more. 

More recruitments

Last week Butali clinched a second successive title having accumulated 42 points with two matches to spare.

“It will be like a revenge match with Wazalendo having lost to them in the first leg. The match will be crucial for both teams since finishing second gives a team automatic slots for next year’s club championship,” said Mugambi.

Police will clash with Wazalendo in their last match of the season slated for December 1.

Mugambi says Police will be working not to repeat the mistake from the soon to be ending season where they let key players leave without replacements.

“Our key players Amos Barkibir and Calvins Kanu joining rivals Butali at the beginning of the season was a huge mistake. We shall hope to make more recruitments during the offseason,” said Mugambi.

Meanwhile, the winner takes it all when relegation-threatened Sikh Union and take on Strathmore University Gladiators at the City Park Stadium.

Only a point separates the two teams who are placed eighth and ninth respectively on the log. – Amos Abuga

With already relegated Parklands taking on Champion Butali, it will be keen to see who between the 2012 winners Sikh with nine points and 2016 Champions Gladiators on 10 points will face the chop.