Fireworks expected as KHF season comes to a close

As curtains come down on the Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) 2021 regular league, former champions Black Mamba are looking to seal a third-place finish when they take on Ulinzi Handball Club in the final league match set for Sunday 21 November.

The Martin Abunde-coached side head to the match at 30 points after 17 matches and need a win to prevent the fifth-place Ulinzi from piping them for third place. National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and Strathmore University have already sealed first and second places as Mamba would need to win by more than 66 goals to beat the varsity side to second place.

In a match that has all the ingredients of a thriller, the military side has a battle in its hands as they will be looking not to lose back-to-back matches seeing as they lost last weekend’s match to Strathmore.

Ulinzi have played matches for 14 wins and are fifth on 28 points. A win takes them to 30 points same as Mamba and General Service Unit (GSU) but with a superior goal difference, they would seal third place.

The five sides as well as Kenyatta University who finished sixth, having picked 12 wins for 24 points, one ahead of Buccaneers who lost the battle for a Super Cup berth at the tail end of their campaign after playing for a draw against Boomarang.

In the women’s league, a thriller is expected when second-placed Ulinzi Sharks play NCPB women who are third on the log. Despite the position having been decided following Sharks’ 22-35 win over Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) on Saturday that took their points tally to 22 and out of NCPB’s reach the sides battle for pride.

The millers, third on the log, however, are looking over their shoulder as Nanyuki Women who are a point behind have a clash against league champions Nairobi Water Queens. NCPB have won nine matches for 18 points while Nanyuki won eight and drew one for 17 in the eight-team league.

Nanyuki have their work cut out against an unbeaten Nairobi Queens side. The match, initially set to be played on Saturday afternoon had to be postponed to Sunday morning due to the heavy downpour.