El Sharkia thrash GRA as Niger flickers surprise Trustees

    The race to be crowned Africa club champions got underway today at the Theodosia Okoh hockey pitch, Accra, with disappointments for Ghana’s male representatives as both GRA and Trustees lost their opening games. It was defending champions, Eastern Company Club of Egypt who engaged Nigeria’s police machine in the men’s opener. the Egyptians took control of the game right from the start making dangerous runs into the opponents half. Aboutaleb Mahmoud and Rashwan Mohamed made things difficult for the Nigerians with their inter positional play. a penalty corner awarded in the 13th minute was perfectly executed by Aboutaleb Mahmoud with drag flick into the top left corner beating Sani Almustapha in post for Police Machine. Rashwan Mohamed increased the tally two minutes inside the second quarter before Aboutaleb from another penalty corner made it 3-0. the game at this point was out of reach for the Nigerians. However, the final quarter brought the best out of Police Machine with Olayinka Jayeoba and Michael Agbaegbu the main actors. A fantastic solo run from Michael down the left side of Eastern’s defense saw him outwit three defenders before playing the ball past goalkeeper Shehata Farahat to reduce the deficit. The goal seem to have sparked more life into Police Machine but all efforts proved futile. The game ended with Eastern company 3-1 winners. A hat-trick from Linus kelvin was enough to win all maximum points for Niger flickers in their game against Ghana’s Trustees. Kelvin put the flickers ahead as early as the 6th minute with a reverse hit going through the legs of Karikari in post for Trustees. Johnny Botsio leveled the game from a penalty corner. Captain Nsalbini Salya put trustees in front from a penalty stroke after defender John Micheal stopped Botsio’s trademark reverse hit with his leg on the goal line. Flickers equalized five minutes later after goalkeeper Jeffery Karikari allowed Endurance Ngozi’s feeble hit elude him into his post. Coach Edmond Aryeetey decided to bring on John Kenneth in place of Karikari who was having a bad day. Abgeli Samuel put the Ghanaian side in front in the final quarter to send the entire stadium into jubilant mood. Niger Flickers John Michael was shown a straight red card minutes later after a silly foul on Salya Nsalbini to make matters worse for the Nigerians. The party was however cut short for Trustees and the home crowd when Kelvin got his brace with a reverse hit after bad defending form Trustees. He completed his hat-trick four minutes to time with a deflection inside the area from Ngozi’s long hit. Johnny Botsio and his side tried to level the game but the resilience of the flickers defense proved vital. The game ended with Niger Flickers beating trustees 4-3. The final game for match day three produced seven goals as Egyptian champions and competition record title holders, El Sharkia beat Ghanaian champions GRA 5-2. Ahmed Moahmed Aly opened the gates in the 14th minute. A brilliant play from Ahmed Gamal on the right found Aly in the area to tap home from close range. GRA responded in the 27th minute from Micheal Akuamaoh. Gobran Hosam put El Sharkia in front for the second time from a penalty corner. Moahmed Aly made it 3-1 in the 36th minute. The Egyptians who used less energy and allowed the ball travel more looked to have carried the lead into the final quarter before Damalie Luke’s penalty corner goal reduced the deficit for GRA. Luke got injured in the process and had to be replaced after getting the goal. The fourth quarter started with both team very conscious and tactically disciplined. Skipper Sameer Mohamed stepped up to covert their second penalty corner of the game with a drag flick. Gobran put the game beyond GRA in the 51st minute when he deflected Moahmed Aly’s reverse hit cross from the right flank closer to the corner flag. GRA played very well but lack of experience on their part ensured they tasted defeat for the first time in over 12 months of action. Speaking after the contest, Sharkia’s Ahmed Ezz said “We came into this with a sole aim of winning and that is what we did. GRA are a very strong side and showed that in the game…we have won this  game and our focus is on the very next till we get to the final”. El Sharkia’s win put them top of the men’s table with Eastern Company coming second. Niger Flickers with that famous win over trustees lie third level on points with the Egyptians. Ghana’s duo of Trustees and GRA come in 5th and 6th respectively after Nigeria’s police machine.

    GRA, Ghana Police and Telkom ladies off to a flying start at ACCC

      Defending champions, Telkom Kenya defeated Yobe Queens as Ghana’s GRA and Police ladies team thrash their respective opponents on match day one. The first game of the competition was between Nigerian league champions, Kada Queens and the ladies from Ghana Police. The game started on a rather tense and shaky note but it Ghana Police who took the lead. An inch perfect pass from Cecilia Amoako found Umaru Nafisatu in front of goal who made no mistake to slap the ball home through the legs of goalkeeper Komi Ineh. Nafisatu made it two in the 14th minute after a blunder from the Nigerian defense. She completed her hat trick as early as the 22nd minute from a penalty corner. The second quarter ended with Ghana Police solely in control of the game. Kada queens in the third quarter stepped up their play mounting pressure on the Police team who eventually gave up to concede a goal in the 42nd minute courtesy Aben Nguvan. the pressure piled up after the goal but the Police team’s defense ensured they concede none. The goals were coming for the Ghanaian international, Umaru Nafisatu who got her fourth in the 49th minute from a penalty corner. The game ended 4-1 in favor of Ghana Police. in an interview with isports360 after the match, Umaru Nafisatu said, “We are grateful to God for this victory. i knew i would score but not as many as four. we have started well and hope to clinch the ultimate”. Wangechi Lucy scored four as defending champions Telecom Kenya beat Yobe dessert queens 5-0 in the second game. The champions started the game on a slow pace with the game barren within the fist ten minutes. The game plan of Yobe looked to have worked out as the champions started showing signs of frustrations. The dead lock was however broken in the 10th minute courtesy Lucy Wangechi. The champions took control of the game as Lucy made it 2-0 minutes later. The young bulky attacker completed her hat-trick with a simple goal before Audrey Amooh added her name to the score sheet to make it 4-0. Yobe queens switched to a more defensive play to avoid more goals but Lucy had her own intentions. the young striker latched onto a defensive howler to make it 5-0 for the champions. GRA ladies in the final women’s game of the day beat the young lads from Strathmore University by 4-0. An expected win for GRA by all started in favor of Strathmore who played so well in the first 20 minutes. Okumu Gilly of Strathmore exhibited her technique, pace and skills to keep the GRA defense busy. Skipper Monica Grant put GRA ahead in the 26th minute before Emelia Fosua made it two from a penalty corner in the 35th minute. GRA in full control of the game in the third quarter wasted numerous chances with Elizabeth Opoku the culprit. Vivian Narkuor added the third with a reverse hit before Coffie Ernestina rounded up in the 57th minute. “We started very well holding the GRA team but eventually my ladies lost control and conceded four afterwards”, Coach Senge speaking after the match. “We have not given up the fight and still expect more from my ladies beacause the best is yet to come…Telkom is a very good side but we will still fight this to the very end”, he added. Telkom lead the table with three points same as GRA ladies and Police ladies but superior goal difference. Kada Queens , Strathmore and Yobe complete the table in 4th, 5th and 6th positions respectively. Source: isports360.com

      “We are competitors and not participants”, Coach Senge

        Head coach of Strathmore hockey club, Meshack Senge said his ladies are here to compete and give a good account of themselves ahead of the upcoming championship. He made this known after the team arrived at the Theodosia Okoh hockey pitch on Thursday afternoon ahead of their opener against Ghana’s GRA. The team had a short training session later after arrival with all participanting. “It’s always a big tournament, always the best platform to showcase whatever you have to the rest of the continent. We are happy to arrive safely and we are ready to go. We have participated in four previous editions with a second place our best position hence we are not new to this terrain”. “The girls are looking good and sharp going into the competition hence we can’t complain other than show what we have done. We don’t have much to say about all we have but you will obviously see during the competition. In general, we are happy with our preparations”, he said’ On which clubs that can pose threats, Coach Senge said, “we are all coming here as champions in our own jurisdiction hence no need to put any club ahead as favorites. We are all ready and good hence the need to put up your best matters”. He touched on the weather here in Ghana, “the weather does count a lot in this competition due to the changes in humidity and altitude. This can affect us but you only stress about things you can change and adapt to the ones you have no control over. We are here to have a good show and entertain and get a good result”, he concluded. Strathmore hockey club from Strathmore University, Kenya have participated in the ACCC, four times with a silver medal their best. Source: isports360.com

        ACCC17 – Eastern Company complete first training session with much expectation

          Defending Club Champions of Africa, Eastern Company Club of Egypt, touched the Kotoka International airport in the early hours of Monday in their bid to defend the trophy. The team arrived in a well motivated mood ahead of the competition. Ahead of the competition, the team trained for the first time at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Pitch. The team made up of 17 players and 8 officials made entry to the stadium 1300hrs GMT to get accustomed to the turf. Players who were not used to the hot temperature trained with their bare chest saying they have to put in more energy in order to play up to standard. Club’s Forward and Egypt international Hakim Ahmed in an interview with isports360 congratulated all clubs for making it to the competition. He further noted that their focus is to come and go home with the trophy after winning two years in succession. “We respect all teams and know we will have a tough opposition in Trustees and Sharkia but our aim is to go for gold… Sharkia beat us in Egypt during our National league and we will pay them back here in Ghana”, he said. With respect to organisation of the competition and reception in Ghana, Hakim praised the Local Organising committee. He said, ” We have been received well in Ghana and the people are very nice to us… aside the weather, we are okay with everything”, he said. Eastern Company Club of Egypt after years of playing in the competition made a mark in 2015 when they beat record title holders El Sharkia in the final. The club have since then won two gold medals in the competiton; 2015 and 2016 with a 3rd time in mind. With Sharkia and Kenya Police all tasting defeat in previous final to Eastern Company, who can stop the defending champions this year ? The 29th edition of the Africa Cup for Club Champions comes off this weekend in Accra, Ghana.

          Africa Cup for Club Champions 2017 – Match Schedule

            The 29th edition of the ACCC comes off this year in Ghana, the city of Accra to be precise. The Theodosia Okoe Hockey stadium will be the venue of attraction as Clubs from the continent lock horns for supremacy from 20th – 28th January, 2018. Source: isports360.com

            Africa Cup for Club Championships

            Africa Cup for Club Champions 2017

              The Africa Cup for Club Champions is a tournament organised by the Africa Hockey Federation for Clubs in Africa. The annual tourney seeks to bring Champions of various Hockey leagues in respective countries as well as runners up for both men and women. The competition which has been in existence for over two decades, is set to come on this year bringing to hockey lovers and fans all the excitements, surprises, mouth watering clashes as well as long rivalry. The competition has over the years been dominated by Egyptian Clubs ( El Sharkia and Eastern Company) in the men’s category with Kenya’s Orange Hockey club dominating the women’s category. The 29th edition of the ACCC comes off this year in Ghana, the city of Accra to be precise. The Theodosia Okoe Hockey stadium will be the venue of attraction as Clubs from the continent lock horns for supremacy from 20th – 28th January, 2018. 12 Clubs from 4 countries will be in action for this continental clash. The men’s category will see 6 Clubs from three countries notably Defending Champions Eastern Company club and record title holders El Sharkia from Egypt. Nigeria’s duo of Police Machine and Niger flickers will also be in contention with Ghana Revenue Hockey club (GRA) and SSNIT hockey club (Trustees) from host country completing the group. Defending Champions Telkom Orange Hockey club and Strathmore University Hockey club represent Kenya with KADA Queens and Yobe Desert Queens also from Nigeria. Ghana’s duo of last year’s finalist Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Ghana Police wrap up teams in the women’s category. As no Ghanaian club has ever won this event, the representatives of Ghana will use this glorious opportunity of hosting to try and end the dominance of certain clubs and break the jinx. Source: isports360.com

              Eastern Company of Egypt

              ACCC 2016 Final Day – Defending Champions Retain Titles

                On a day of excitement and under the watch of a packed stadium of fans and dignitaries, defending women’s champions Orange Club of Kenya and men’s champions Eastern Company Club of Egypt came out tops after 9 days of fantastic and competitive hockey. Orange proved their dominance in the women’s competition in recent years making it 5 championships in a row with victory over old campaigners GRA (formerly known as CEPS) of Ghana. The match was fiercely contested but it was the Kenyans who had the extra edge tactically, technically and physically to claim the spoils with a 2-0 win. Orange made sure of a record 10 championships out of 20 since the inception of the women’s competition in 1996. GRA, who boast of a good number of the Ghana National Women’s hockey team, put up a spirited fight but that was not enough to overcome the strength, speed and agility of the Orange ladies. The Bronze medal match was won by Kada Queens of Nigeria who fought back from 2 goals down to beat compatriots and former champions Heartlands 4-2. Ghana Police Women placed 5th beating Sharkia 6-2, while Sliders of Kenya came in 7th after Sharkia of Egypt beating Wananchi of Uganda 3-0. Dar Ladies of Tanzania condemned Weatherhead of Uganda to the bottom of the placings beating them 1-0 to place 9th. In the men’s competition, looked to have started a new dynasty taking over from compatriots Sharkia with the successful defence of their title. When many thought the Egyptian dominance of the 28 year old competition was about to be broken due to losses inflicted on both Sharkia and Eastern in the Group stages, Eastern picked themselves up to pull through to the semi-finals. Again, when the thronging fans and media pundits thought the much fancied homesters Butali Warriors were going to finally push the Egyptian opposite aside, Eastern held their own and dispatched the Warriors in a tense penalty shootout after 70 minutes of thrilling hockey which ended in a 2-2 stalemate. Eastern Company needed to overcome another Kenyan opposition to retain their title after Kenya Police saw off Ghana Police in the clash of the Policemen. The Kenyan Police made light work of their Ghanaian opponents brushing them aside with a 4-1 victory. The stage was thus set for an exciting men’s final and in front of a packed and cheering stadium, the match lived up to its billing. After 70 minutes of a thrilling encounter which ended goalless, the shootout was to determine the champions. Eastern missed one attempt at goal and lead 3-2 at the 4th shoot out for both teams. Police however failed to convert their 5th and final shootout when Eastern goalie pulled of a save. Eastern celebrated to the disappointment of the packed stadium of hopeful Kenyan fans. Butali Warriors put in a good effort to soothe the pain of the home fans by winning the bronze, beating debutants Ghana Police 3-0. Record championship winners Sharkia, finished the competition in a very unfamiliar distant 5th position beating Exchequers 3-2 in a tight contest. Niger Flickers of Nigeria came in 7th beating Weatherhead of Uganda 8-0 in the classification match. Wananchi of Uganda placed 9th and bottom of the classifications. For many who have followed the ACCC over the years, they believe the level of hockey exhibited points to the beginning of a new era where the dominance of Sharkia ends and others take over. The thrills of the competition brought to the fore that although Eastern retained their crown, it was achieved against a very tight opposition which resulted in a one game loss during the Group stages. Some individual awards were handed out to outstanding performers courtesy of sponsors Hockey Farm of Ghana and Kenya. In the women’s competition, Aya Mahmoud of Sharkia Ladies won the best goalie after she stood solid for a very improved Sharkia team. The top scorer was jointly won by Elizabeth Opoku of GRA Ghana and Wangechi Mwangi Jaqueline of Orange Kenya with 9 goals each. In the men’s competition, Shehata Elrazek Farahat of Eastern won the best goalie while Emmanuel Ankomah of Exchequers of Ghana won the top scorer with 8 goals to his credit.