Telkom's inaugural match under new coach Ruth Mbulo ended in a 0-0 draw against Amira Sailors in the Kenya Hockey Union women’s Premier League on Sunday at Nairobi's City Park Stadium.
The result marked a challenging start for Mbulo, who succeeded long-serving Jos Openda in January after 16 years at the helm. Despite controlling possession, Telkom struggled to convert chances, with Amira goalkeeper Naliaka Bridie making key saves against top scorer Jackline Mwangi.
Mbulo dismissed concerns about the team's performance without Openda, stating, "Ofcourse a lot is expected from us because we are champions but it wasn’t just our day. We had chances to win the game but did not take them." She emphasized continuity, noting the squad remained largely intact from Openda's tenure.
Kenya Police also faced a setback, drawing 1-1 with Sikh Union in the men's Premier League on the same day. Amira team manager Collins Asimba acknowledged his side's resilience, saying, "In the past we have crumbled when playing against Telkom but today we matched them all the way and should even have collected the three points."
Telkom will next face Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, while Amira prepares for a clash against Kenyatta University Titans.
