By sportsnewsarena correspondent
Nov 03, 2017
Godfrey Wakachunga, the Butali Sugar Warriors is worried about his players' fitness as they prepare for their first matches of the second leg.
The immediate former league champions take on Green Sharks on Saturday and Nakuru Athletic Club on Sunday at the City Park Stadium in what would be their first matches in the Kenya Hockey Union league in over three months.
The tactician pointed out the lack of recent matches for his players as key factor in their double fixture this weekend.
Butali last played a league on July 23 against Parklands Sports Club and drew 1-1.
“I have concerns with the match fitness and sharpness. We have not been in action for two months while our opponents have been playing. As much as we might want to believe that we will play the matches as they come, I believe the two sides will have an advantage due to their long match fitness,” explained Wakachunga.
Butali had three players in the national men’s team that played in the just concluded Africa Nations Cup in Egypt.
Wakachunga is aware that the three must have acquired match fitness with playing at the international level but is concerned of how the other players will cope in two matches that will see them close on leaders Kenya Police.
“Our opponents have played at least four matches in the second leg and this has given them an edge over us. We hope that our national team players will be in good shape and the other players will also give their best even though I know it will be tough playing two matches in less than 48 hours,” he said.
In the absence of matches, Wakachunga is confident of a better show from his side especially on set pieces and short corners which was his biggest liability in the first leg.
“We have worked hard on converting the shot corners. We were not good in them in the first leg," he observed.
Meanwhile Nakuru Athletics Coach Tony Agesa is confident that his team would give a tough test for the host. "I just want the players to show what we can do. Hopefully we get the confidence and we play together as a unit so that we can get a good result," he said.
Weekend Fixtures - Venue is City Park unless stated
Saturday: Men's Premier League - Kenya Police v Kenya College Accountancy University (12 p.m.), Kenyatta University v Nakuru Athletics Club (2 p.m.) Green Sharks v Butali Sugar Warriors (4 p.m.), Mombasa Sports Club v Chase Amira (3 p.m, Mombasa); Women's Premier League; Chase Amira v Mombasa Sports Club (6 p.m.).
Sunday: Women's Premier League: Strathmore University Scorpions v Mombasa Sports Club (9 a.m.), Telkom Orange v JKUAT (1 p.m.); Men's Premier League: Butali Sugar Warriors v Nakuru Athletic Club (11 a.m.), Strathmore University Gladiators v Wazalendo (3 p.m.).
