NAIROBI, Kenya, September 12 – National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) men’s handball team coach Brian Matthews insists the team still have to pull up their socks despite their unbeaten run in this season’s Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) league.
The league defending champions laboured to a 41-25 win over Spartans in their latest match this past weekend at the Nyayo Stadium.
Matthews conceded that they committed so many turnovers in the game and had to pull out all stops to harvest maximum points.
“We are focusing on the next game because we want to approach every match as a final. We were not very good in attack…we committed a lot of turnovers but we took the win and that is what matters now,” Matthews said.
The coach said his main target in the new week will be to sharpen the blunt edges of their attack so they can take down with their opponents with ease.
“I believe this week we will work on the mistakes before our next match but from the score today, all is well. I would say our last match met our expectations because we won. Had we lost, it would have been a terrible day for us…we also don’t have any injuries so I think we are good,” Matthews added.
The coach also credited their opponents for providing a stern test for the champions who lead closest challengers, Ulinzi Sharks, on goal difference.
“They forced us into many turnovers…they were engaging in a lot of timewasting where we had to use our 3-3 defence to force them into as many turnovers as well. They used their line player well and that is a good thing from the other side,” he said.
A good start
Meanwhile, Young City coach Frederick Omole was over the moon for his team, following their 33-29 win over Hunters in what was their first match of the new season.
Although the newbies lost 30-18 to Nanyuki in their second encounter on Sunday, Omole promised more to come from his charges as they adapt to life at the elite level.
“The win is a big boost to us because we have started on a good footing. Apart from a few challenges we have had because…our fitness is not really there. So we really need to work on that as well as our defence because we have seen that we are giving our opponents a lot of room to work in our half,” Omole said.
Young City next face an uphill task this weekend when they play Buccaneers on Saturday at Nyayo Stadium before dueling with unbeaten General Service Unit (GSU) on Sunday at the same venue.
