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Former champions Kisumu Academy took advantage of the absence of defending champions Kisumu Saints to launch their title hunt with three straight victories on the opening weekend of the 2021 Victoria Handball Super League.

Kisumu Academy are the four-time champions after winning the league in the 2015/2016 season, 2016/2017, 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 before losing the crown to Kisumu Saints in 2019/2020.

The weekend victories did not, however, come on a silver platter as they had to dig deep, fighting hard to beat Kanyamedha Men 12-11, KAJ HC 10-8 and Maseno University Men 18-12 in their third match of the weekend.

Kanyamedha Men are second after bouncing back from Kisumu Academy’s loss to beat Maseno University 15-12 and KAJ HC 16-15.

KAJ HC beat Maseno University to record first win of the season that propelled them to third with the Polytechnic sides Kisumu Poly and Sigalagala Poly occupying fourth and fifth places by virtue of not kicking a ball in week one while Maseno are seventh and last in the seven with zero points after losing all their opening three matches.

“Due to financial constraints, defending champions Kisumu Saints folded and sold most of their good players including their captain Derrick Oruko who is now playing for KAJ HC.

This means that this season we will have seven teams for the men’s league and six teams for ladies as compared to last season’s eight men’s teams and five ladies’ teams,” Victoria Handball Super League Director Robert Owino told People Sport.

 “The plan for the league is to keep the handball spirit burning after the Covid-19 break even though the new strain is here with us, teams are urged to observe the Covid-19 protocols,” added Owino.

 In the ladies’ league, Kisumu Academy Ladies had a good start to the season, winning their opening two matches after seeing off heavyweights Thea Queens 21-19 as well as Kanyamedha Girls 20-11 to go top with Thea Queens beating Kanyamedha Girls 14-8 to go second.