NCPB facing acid test in title-defense quest
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 21.06.24. | 16:23
three matches are scheduled for Saturday with two being league deciders
Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) men’s league champions National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) are, for the first time in a few seasons, faced with an arduous task in the quest to defend their title.
The Brian Matthews-coached side heads to the final match, against fellow title contenders Ulinzi HC, slated for Saturday 22 June at Nyayo Stadium, standing on shaky grounds as they lead the standings by a superior goal difference.
Both sides are tied on 45 points with the Millers holding a 46-goal advantage. While the military side needs an outright win to reclaim an elusive title, one they have been chasing for over five years, NCPB could settle for a draw and still dominate.
Coach Dunstan Eshikumo who has been assisting Matthews on the men’s side while handling the women’s side as head coach maintains that they are still the team to beat as he revealed that the final matches had to be postponed to give everyone an equal chance.
The matches were initially scheduled for Monday 17 June. “We had three matches scheduled from Saturday through to Monday and being at such a crucial point we couldn’t risk playing all as the players needed rest,” explained Eshikumo.
His skipper Timothy Kirimi maintains the title is theirs to lose, adding that they will be out to establish dominance against Ulinzi who subjected the millers to defeat in the pre-season Super Cup tournament.
“The last match we played was at the East and Central Africa championship and we won. However, before that Ulinzi had won the Cup final . This the kind of see-saw we cannot allow. We will not be complacent but we are confident of a win. We have a fully fit squad and I hope we can use that to our advantage,” Kirimi told Mozzart Sport.
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