NCPB skipper welcomes tiered KHF leagues

"It is long overdue."

These are the sentiments of National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) skipper Timothy Kirimi, welcoming the potential for the creation of a top-tier league soon, even as the Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) 2024/25 leagues continue to take shape.

Despite having new entrants in both the men’s and women’s leagues, the status quo remains with the usual suspects, NCPB, Ulinzi HC, and Equity HC for men as well as Ulinzi Sharks, Nairobi Water, and NCPB Women, continue to dominate.

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“The quality of matches we are playing is wanting. There are clear mismatches in our league and it becomes hard for the top teams to be tested and our competitiveness internationally is affected. While it gives the lower sides a chance to improve, a better format would produce the same result for these teams without compromising the quality of the top league,” Kirimi told Mozzart Sport.

Before the 2024/25 league commenced, the now 22-team men’s league was to be divided into two. The 16-women’s league too, with any new sides joining the lower leagues. However, according to KHF, some stakeholders felt the need to run one more season to determine who remains in the top tier. As the season unfolds, not much is expected to change from the last season’s standings.

“It is important to have a league where the teams can compete at the same level. It also gives teams something to compete for, away from the Super Cup places. Having a promotion and relegation would be the first step in changing the trajectory of our sport,” the veteran continued. “These changes are long overdue. It is a conversation that has been ongoing for several seasons and this wait, in my opinion, was unnecessary.”

Kirimi addressed the safety of young players as the leagues incorporate high school teams. “We have many talented players at the school level but playing senior teams could be risky. How safe are they in case of injuries since this is a contact sport? What steps is the league taking to ensure their safety on the court? Away from league competition, these are some of the issues a tiered league would address as well,” Kirimi added.

The federation has previously cited a lack of funds for the current format of play and it remains to be seen whether the format will change in the next season as indicated.