NCBA Wazalendo Pearls will be aiming to carry Saturday’s momentum into sterner fixtures after captain Diana Cherono’s hat-trick inspired a 4-0 win over GHF Rift Pirates Ladies in the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Super Ladies League at Highway Secondary School.
“We know this win sets a good tone, but the real test will be sustaining it against the stronger teams ahead,” Cherono said. “We have to sharpen our penalty corners even more and keep our defensive focus because those details will matter in the big games.”
Cherono struck in the fifth minute with a precise field goal, doubled the lead in the 12th minute from a well-drilled penalty corner and completed her treble in the 35th minute with another open-play finish as Pearls capitalised on the pace and structure to take early control. “That early intensity changed the game,” Cherono said.
She added, “When we start strong, we put the opponents under pressure and dictate how the match unfolds. Now, we have to maintain that level against the top teams.”
Caroline Nduta added the fourth in the 48th minute, converting the second penalty corner of the match with a powerful strike that deflected past the goalkeeper. It was another example of the Pearls’ growing proficiency from set-pieces, a department that had cost them points earlier in the season.
Coach Dennis Mwanzo noted that the match provided important lessons on maintaining focus after taking the lead.
“We stayed disciplined and avoided getting sloppy,” he said. “In the past, we’ve relaxed after scoring, but today we kept structure and patience.”
The Pearls’ midfield cut off supply to the Pirates’ forwards, limiting their counterattacks while keeping the goalkeeper largely untested.
The defensive pairing was alert to second balls, ensuring a second consecutive clean sheet. With the win, NCBA Wazalendo Pearls consolidate their position in the standings, but they know sterner challenges lie ahead with clashes against top-four rivals looming.
“It’s about building from here,” Cherono said. “We must use this match as a reference point and keep improving.”
GHF Rift Pirates Ladies will seek to bounce back, with their coach urging his players to tighten marking in the circle and react quicker to second-phase balls from penalty corners.
“We gave them too much space in critical areas, especially after the first shot from penalty corners,” the Pirates coach Leiticiah Pepela said. “If we close those gaps faster and stay tighter in the circle, we can avoid conceding such easy goals.”
by CHARLENE MALWA
