Desert Scorpions edge KU to boost survival hopes

Despite trailing 14-13 at halftime, Desert Scorpions recovered in the second half to secure a crucial one-goal win.

Top scorer Benson Mutinda led the charge with 10 goals, while Robin Mosomi added four as the Scorpions completed a successful weekend and boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop.

Head coach Martin Abunde said his side knew they had to respond after the heavy first-leg defeat and credited tactical changes in the second half for turning the game around.

“This was a game that we had to win because KU had beaten us by eight goals in the first leg. We played well in the first half but lost momentum towards the end and went into the break trailing by one goal. In the second half, we made substitutions, the game changed, and the pressure shifted to the opponent,” said Abunde.

The coach added that a red-card incident disrupted his plans but praised his players for adapting and securing the result.

“The red card affected us because we lost one of our key players, but the team adjusted well and managed to get the win.”

Mosomi, who was the second top scorer, said the players were motivated by the need to secure their Premier League status.

“The game was hard because we are fighting to stay in the Premier League and escape relegation. We’ve been working for this result, and that’s why we won. Benson Mutinda helped us a lot today, and we’re grateful for his contribution,” Mosomi said.

Teammate Steven Wanyama said the players’ focus throughout the week paid off, although he admitted discipline remains an area the team must improve.

“We’ve been preparing since last week because we want to survive relegation, and that preparation paid off. We’re happy to have collected all four points this weekend, but we also need to improve our discipline and temper to avoid situations that lead to red cards,” said Wanyama.

The win follows another positive result for Desert Scorpions after defeating UOE Pipers 41-23 earlier in the weekend, giving them four valuable points in the relegation battle.

With several difficult fixtures still ahead, including matches against Kisiwa National Polytechnic, GSU and Equity, Abunde believes defensive improvement will be key to survival.

“The two wins have put us in a better position to climb out of the relegation zone. We’ll work more on our defence and execution because goal difference becomes a problem when your defence is weak,” Abunde noted.

The result leaves Desert Scorpions with renewed hope as they continue their battle to retain their place in the Kenya Handball Federation Men’s Premier League.