• He fits into our system perfectly and will help us grow. The battle for slots only augurs well for the future—Opere.
• Butali did not register a team for the Jerico hockey festival organized by the Mombasa County Association hockey last weekend.
Image: HANDOUT
The addition of Barthelemy Destree to the Butali Warriors' star-studded midfield will enhance competition and make the sugar millers a more innovative outfit, team manager Victor Opere has said.
The Belgian boasts a wealth of experience having played hockey in his home country and also Argentina, where he had a six-month spell with Ciudad de Buenos.
"He is a utility player and a technically gifted athlete and I am sure he's going to take the league like a duck to water. He fits into our system perfectly and will help us grow. The battle for slots only augurs well for the future," Opere pointed out.
"The boys have worked hard to ensure the team remains on top. We just need to keep focus because we have the artillery needed to successfully defend our title."
Butali did not register a team for the Jerico hockey festival organized by the Mombasa County Association hockey last weekend. Opere said they wanted to give players enough break before embarking on their mission.
"Our focus is solely on retaining the league title. We don't want distractions. Some of the players are outside the country for job commitments but I believe when we return, the boys will be fresh."
"We have some grueling fixtures coming up. We want the players to have the right mentality upon their return to action."
The champions top the men's league with 30 points from 12 matches with their closest challengers, Kenya Police tallying 24 points.
Butali, women's Premier League side Strathmore Scorpions and Kenya University Titans, who ply trade in the women's second tier, remain the only unbeaten teams in the KHU leagues so far. Butali has managed three draws—two of those coming against Western Jaguars.
Opere said the title holders have become a target for teams by virtue of their achievements. The Constant Wakhura-captained Butali has won the last three league titles in a row.
"Our rivals are trying their best to stop us and that is the spirit of competition. We are undeterred by that but we can only silence them by ensuring we pick maximum points in every match," said Opere.