Strathmore Gladiators hockey team have been boosted by the timely return of defender Kimson Webi from a muscle injury.
Webi, who has become indispensable in the side, will feature against Sikh Union in the Kenya Hockey Union Premier League match this weekend if coach Meshack Senge is to be believed.
"Webi has shaken off the injury that has kept him from action and is available for selection," Senge said.
"Amos Kai is still on rehab though he has started training," he added.
The KHU league has been on break for the Christmas period and action resumes this weekend with two matches lined up in the women's top tier while the men's cadre will witness four matches in an action-packed weekend.
The tactician said the break has helped the players' recovery from injury as well as improving their mental well-being.
"Recovery is not necessarily from injury. Players need to recover from muscle fatigue and mental stress and there's more desire to improve," Senge, who guided Gladiators to the league title in 2016 pointed out.
The transition has been the biggest challenge for Strathmore because they lose players yearly, making it difficult for the coach to work with a settled team.
Senge is working with seven new players this season- most of them playing in the Premier League for the first time.
Despite the inexperience, the students registered a 2-2 draw with defending champions Butali Warriors before the break and the gaffer believes there's more to come from his charges.
"We have never lost because the opposition created more chances than us but because of inexperience. We have about seven players in their debut season, it's always a learning process and a big ask to compete in the league," Senge, who has enjoyed a decade stint with the national men's team said.
"Our biggest challenge is the inability to handle the tail-end of the game. If the players master the art of game management and handling the pressure, we can be a force to reckon with."
