National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) open their Kenya Handball Federation men’s title defence against newcomers Hunters.
The league champions, who narrowly missed the double when they went down to rivals Ulinzi, have retooled and are all set for the new season, according to coach Bryan Mathews.
“We are ready for our title defence,” said Mathews. “I have new players who have joined the team and it will be all systems go when the opening whistle goes.”
The other top guns in action on the opening week are third-place finishers General Service Unit, who meet another new side in Wakanda.
Black Mamba, who were fourth and Strathmore University, who were fifth, will play top Nairobi school side Inspired on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
KHF fixtures co-ordinator George Asimeto revealed that seven new teams have joined the national league with two coming from outside Nairobi county. The two are Wakanda from Kiambu and Mountain Queens from Bungoma.
The other new sides in the league are National Youth Service (NYS), who had a successful stint in the '90s, Daystar University, Waterbuck and Hunters.
Joining the women’s category are Mountain Queens and NYS.
“The men's teams will play one leg like in the past while the women will battle on a home and away basis,” said Asimeto.
Fixtures
Saturday: Wakanda v NYS, Black Mamba v Inspired, Waterbucks v Hunters and Wakanda v GSU
Sunday: Wakanda v Waterbucks, Hunters v NCPB, Wakanda v Thika, Strathmore v Inspired and NYS v GSU.