Handball: Oyaro preaching consistency as Sharks eye double

Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) women’s league champions, the Ulinzi Sharks, have their sights set on repeating their 2024 feat of winning the double, with coach Nixon Oyaro calling on his troops to remain consistent.

The military side dethroned Nairobi Water to lift both the league title and the Super Cup, ending over a decade of dominance for the Jack Ochieng-led side that also went on to lose their East and Central Africa Handball Federation (ECAHF) title to Uganda Police.

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“The target is to retain the two trophies, but we are well aware it is no walk in the park. We have a target on our backs, and the challenge when the league resumes next month is not only to maintain top place but to ensure we maintain our winning streak. Retaining the title is the true test of a champion, and we are eager to achieve that,” Oyaro told Mozzart Sport.

Sharks are set to resume training in the opening week of February, and the tactician says he is not worried about the team’s fitness as players are working on that at an individual level.

“The first order of business will be working on the team’s morale and chemistry before getting to the tactical aspects of the game. We will look to carry the same momentum from last year. However, we have a few areas of concern, the key being consistency in maintaining early leads. We will also work on better ball handling to minimize our turnovers, as those are the two areas that opponents have exploited to beat us previously,” Oyaro opened up.

With five of his players having gained national team experience when the team participated in the 2024 Africa Cup held in Congo, DR, Oyaro says the valuable lessons picked will go a long way in helping his side get better in the national league. 

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“We had Dorothy Machuma and Sarah Wasike make their first international trip, and the transformation is evident. They had a chance to experience the game at a higher level, and the impact is expected to trickle down to the club level, making them better players,” Oyaro opined.

Sharks lead the standings with 16 points, two more than rivals and former champions Nairobi Water, who have a game in hand. The two sides remain unbeaten after eight and seven matches, respectively.