Equity coach Mwathi delights in hard-fought win over Strathmore

Equity head coach Peter Mwathi was full of praise for his team after a hard-fought 21–20 victory over Strathmore University in their opening fixture of the Kenya Handball Federation Men’s League at the Nyayo Stadium handball court on Sunday.

The bankers had to dig deep to edge out the varsity side after trailing 11–7 at halftime — a period in which they looked disjointed and unusually vulnerable in defense.

However, Equity returned rejuvenated in the second half, mounting a spirited comeback to snatch victory at the death, thanks to inspired performances from Philip Mumo and William Malui, who contributed 11 goals between them.

Mwathi admitted his charges had underestimated their opponents, nearly costing them maximum points.

“Our approach to the game was not good, and we suffered in the first half,” he told Citizen Digital. “We had to restrategize, bring our A-game in the second half, and that made the difference.”

He added that the narrow win offered crucial lessons for the team moving forward.

“We’ve learned that every match must be treated with the seriousness it deserves because all teams are competitive,” Mwathi said.

The national team head coach emphasized that every point will count in their title quest, acknowledging the stiff competition from arch-rivals National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

“It’s important for us to pick up all possible points because dropping any could derail our title ambitions. The standards are high, and this league is very competitive — you have to win every game,” he noted.

Mwathi also welcomed the new home-and-away league format, saying it would enhance the level of competition and give teams room for tactical adjustments.

“I’ve been advocating for this format for the past 10 years, and I’m glad the federation has finally embraced it,” he said. “It will make the league more competitive and allow teams to plan better for the second leg.”

Equity narrowly lost the title last season to NCPB, who beat them 33–28 in a decisive finale to retain their crown. With renewed focus and early momentum, Mwathi believes this could be the season the bankers finally go one better.