By Washington Onyango:
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Thursday, April 4th 2019 at 13:09 GMT +3 | HockeyLakers Hockey Club are targeting a perfect start in the 2019 Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Women Premier League when they make their debut against Sliders at the Sikh Union in Kisumu on Saturday.
The Kisumu based club qualified for this year’s topflight hockey league after finishing second in the 2018 Hockey Women Super League with 22 points, three behind champions Kenyatta University.
Speaking to The Standard Sports, team captain Linnah Lincy said the team is psyched up for their first match and are eyeing victory in their debut.
“What we all expect as a team is a win in our first match at home. We have had wonderful training sessions and everybody is eagerly waiting for the weekend game,” Lincy said.
The captain, a student of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, also revealed that she is humbled to lead such a young and ambitious team.
“The team is disciplined and hardworking and I feel great to work with such a self-driven youthful ladies in our goal of attaining success in the premier league,” she added.
The lakeside team will be playing their first match of the season against the Nairobi based Sliders who are sixth in the eight-team table after playing two games.
Sliders were held to a barren draw by newbies Kenyatta University in their first match before losing 2-0 to United States International University (USIU) women hockey team last weekend at the City Park.
Team Manager John Paul Otieno also said they are ready for the visitors with the full squad at the disposal of the head coach Aloice Owino.
“We currently have no injuries so we have a full house of talented youngsters who are aiming for a perfect debut,” he said.
Lakers will also be banking on their 2018 super league top scorer Aurelia Atieno to replicate his form to the premier league.
She will, however, have the support of their three new strikers, Charlene Sydney, Angela Akelo and Chepkemoi Cheruiyot who joined the team recently.
The Kisumu blue queens bolster their squad with ten new players earlier this year in an effort to strengthen their squad as they prepare to face stronger teams in USIU-A Women, Strathmore University Women and reigning champions Telkom.
The defending champions, Telkom, are currently leading the standings with four points, one ahead of Strathmore and USIU tied in second with three points.
Lakers will face Strathmore and Kenyatta University in their second and third games respectively in Nairobi on April 13.
