NCPB, Ulinzi clash in a high-octane handball league match

NCPB’s head coach Bryan Matthews is confident they’ll continue asserting their dominance against the soldiers.

The Millers completed a double over the Soldiers last campaign, and Matthews will be keen to extend their impressive run.

“We are prepared to face Ulinzi and we will give our best fight to bag the maximum points. This is a tough clash but I’m confident we will reign supreme,” Matthews said.

The former Kenyan international however said they will treat the game and each match as a final as they eye their title defence in the newly structured league where teams will face one another twice.

“We take each match as a final and we will always display what we have done in our past matches, good defence and impressive attack.”

“The league has been restructured and facing a team twice makes it even hard and more competitive because once you beat a team it has a chance to reset and redeem themselves. Nevertheless, we are ready for the big clashes,” Matthews added.

His opposite number Victor Ochieng said the soldiers have worked on their weakness and is confident this will be their season to turn things around against the millers.

The Soldier’s last win against NCPB came in 2023 when they beat them 37-35 to win the Super Cup.

Ochieng is hopeful they will get their first win against the reigning after two seasons of trial.

“We are confident and we expect to win that match. We have been working on our weaknesses and we have analyzed the way they play and we know how we can exploit their weaknesses,” noted Ochieng.

He added, “The match is crucial and it will begin to define the title race so we have to give our best.”

Before clashing on Sunday NCPB will be eying two crucial points against Kenyatta University on Saturday while Ulinzi will be eying maximum points against Desert Scorpions the same day.

The two heavyweights last clashed in the Super Cup semis in August where NCPB prevailed 30-23.