Defending champions Wananchi [M] get their 2017 league campaign underway on Saturday 24th June against title challengers Weatherhead at the National Hockey Stadium, Lugogo, looking to get off to a perfect start.
With Wananchi hardly altered, they remain the one team to look up to in the National Hockey League and are majority’s pick for the title this season. Their triumph in the league last season made it four trophies for them in a succession, and are the overwhelming favorites this term too.
Unlike Weatherhead who will be playing their second game of the campaign having been involved in the league opener against Kampala Hockey Club Stallions last weekend, it is Wananchi’s first game this term.
The side will look to inflict more agony on Vincent Kasasa’s charges who lost 2-1 to KHC in the opening match.
For Weatherhead, they will hope to avoid another defeat to a direct title rival. It will be a big ask for Kasasa’s side having hardly matched the side captained by Innocent Mbabali last season, but Kasasa knows consecutive defeats will put his side off the pace early in the season as their bid for a league title that has eluded them since 2011 continues.
The side will therefore fight for at least a draw.
The coach will hope his charges improve on their defending. Kasasa attributed their loss to KHC to poor defending of short corners. It is something he said they would work upon as they prepare for their forthcoming games which include tomorrow’s.
