Lakers have a total of 7 points in four games
It wasn’t a kind day for the Kenya women hockey sides taking part in the Africa Cup for Club Champions as they both failed to secure victories in the two games played at the City Park grounds on Thursday.
Reigning Kenya women’s league champions Strathmore University opened proceedings with a 1-1 draw against Ghanaian side Army Ladies, leaving the former fifth on the standings with 4 points.
Army Ladies took the lead shortly after halftime through Charity Akoto before Diana Awino leveled matters through a 59th minute penalty corner.
Disappointed with the result, Strathmore head coach and recipient of the SJAK coach of the month (January) Meshack Senge was impressed by the team’s notable improvement from Wednesday’s game against the Blazers and by their mental strength and brilliant mentality.
In the afternoon game held at the same venue, Kenyan side Lakers suffered their first defeat of the tournament – losing 4-1 to GRA Ladies of Ghana.
Lakers, winners of two games this week, led early on through a Eusyla Cherotich field goal before GRA Ladies skipper Elizabeth Opoku restored parity from a penalty corner within the next seven minutes of the first period.
Vivian Narkour made it 2-1 for GRA as the teams headed to the halftime break.
Two goals from Mercy Ackon and Narkour after the break were enough to hand GRA Ladies their first win of the competition.
“Maybe we overlooked our opponents,” Lakers coach Austine Tuju said after the game. “They [GRA Ladies] haven’t had the best of performances in the previous matches, but today they were a completely different side and they deserved to win. We are still in the contention for the title.”
Still on seven points after four matches, Lakers next take on Strathmore University on Saturday morning with the latter lining up against Nigeria’s Delta Queens on Friday.
The other fixture today involving Blazers and Kada Queens was canceled and three points awarded to the Kenyan side following the Nigerian side no-show in the championships.
Source: mozzartsport.co.ke | February 16, 2023
