ACCC 34M-25W – Kenya’s Blazers, Lakers and Western Jaguars pick big wins in ACCC opener

    Kenyan clubs begun their 2023 Africa Cup for Club Champions Tournament (ACCC) on a high note after picking up big wins as the 10-day tournament kicked off on Saturday in Blantyre, Malawi. Despite the long travel by road from Nairobi to Malawi by Western Jaguars and Lakers Hockey Club, the two clubs showed no signs of fatigue as they blistered their opponents with ease. Ironically, the government through the Ministry of Sports opted to sponsor Blazers Hockey Club who jetted in Malawi via a flight.  Western Jaguars saw off Scorpions of Malawi 9-0 in their opening match. Emmanuel Wiswa scored five goals for Jaguars. Wiswa sounded the bar in the 11th, 13th,43rd, 56th and 57th minutes respectively while Sheldon Kimtai bagged a brace in the 55th and 59th minutes. Bethuel Masambu and Calistus Muyale sealed the win with a goal each. The men’s matches will be played in Round-Robin just as the women’s after the Africa Hockey Federation reviewed the fixtures with other teams pulling hout. After neutralising Scorpions, Jaguars will play Egypt’s Sharkia, Malawi’s Genetrix, Kampala from Uganda, Police Machine from Nigeria and Parachute Battalion. In the women’s category, it was the same story as Blazers thrashed Genetrix Hockey Club from Malawi 13-1. Kenyan internationals Eleanor Chebet and Maureen Okumu each scored a hat trick to lead the former champions to victory. Lilian Aura added a brace as Purity Odinga, Teresa Juma, Joan Anjao, Audrey Omaido and Barbra Simiyu also joined in the goal fest. Margret Munthali netted Genetrix’s consolation goal. Lakers Hockey Club on the other hand hammered Scorpions 12. Gilly Okumu and Lynn Tamunai scored four goals each as captain Alice Owiti netted a brace. Aurelia Opondo and Yvette Kanyandong sealed the win. Source: standardmedia.co.ke | November 19, 2023

    ACCC 34M-25W – Delta Queens suffer defeat to Ghana in Malawi at Africa Club Hockey Championships

      After humiliating the host, Capital Braves of Malawi, 17-0 in the first match at the ongoing 2023 Africa Club Hockey Championships, Nigeria’s representative Delta Queens Hockey team, suffered a 3-4 defeat to their West African neighbour, Ghana, today. The championship began on a high note on Saturday with the Asaba-based team teaching the host country some bitter lessons of hockey, racing a 9-0 victory in the first half and adding another 8-0 scores in the second stanza. The failure of Kaduna State male and female teams to make it to Blantyre, Malawi, forced the orgarnisers to reshuffle the fixtures. The Lakers of Kenya had a 12-0 victory over the Scorpions of Malawi in the other Women’s game on Saturday, just as Blazers, also of Kenya handed a 13-1 defeat to Genetric of Malawi. The game between Nigeria and Ghana today, provided the fans the real fun of hockey, with Delta Queens falling behind 1-2 in the first half. Faith Obukowho scored for Delta Queens. But the coach Ade Jacobs-led Delta Queens Hockey team rediscovered their redeem early in the second half, with Obukowho scoring to bring the game to 2-2, with 15 minutes to play. The Ghanaians fought back and took the lead 3-2, but Delta Queens’ Benedicta Johnson struck to level at 3-3. Just when the fans had concluded that the game will end in a draw, the Ghanaians were awarded what an official of Delta Queens described as controversial penalty in the last minute. Ghana scored to win at 4-3. The defeat notwithstanding, Delta Queens is eying a podium finish in the championship, which will end on November 26. Today is rest day for the Asaba-based side. Delta Queens left Lagos for Blantyre on Wednesday with 18 players, three coaches and other team officials. Source: guardian.ng | November 19, 2023

      Fixtures and Technical Panel: Africa Cup for Club Champions [ACCC] (34th Men – 25th Women Editions) | 18-26 November 2023 (Blantyre, Malawi)

        Africa Cup for Club Champions [ACCC] 34th Men & 25th Women Editions | 18-26 November 2023 in Blantyre – Malawi 14 Participating Clubs from 6 Countries: Egypt | Kenya | Nigeria | Malawi | Ghana | Uganda MEN Sharkia – Egypt Western Jaguars – Kenya Police Machine – Nigeria Genetrix – Malawi Scorpions – Malawi Parachute Battalion – Malawi Kampala – Uganda WOMEN Lakers – Kenya Blazers – Kenya Delta Queens – Nigeria Ghana Revenue Authority GRA – Ghana Genetrix – Malawi Scorpions – Malawi 7. Capital Braves – Malawi

        ACCC: Egypt’s Sharkia win men’s title after handing Ghana Exchequers hockey lessons

          Sharkia captain Hossam Ghobran scored twice in the final Egypt’s Sharkia have claimed the Africa Cup for Club Champions men’s title after thrashing Ghana’s Exchequers 4-2 in the final held at Sikh Union on Sunday. Sharkia, who have won the top honour without tasting defeat advanced to the final after topping group B of the tournament while Exchequers, were the best team in pool A. This was the second time Exchequers lost a final at Sikh Union as the club, fell 2-1 to Kenya Police in the Gold Cup held in May last year. The hotly-contested encounter saw the Ghanaians take an early lead in the 12th minute through Botsio Johny whose conversion from a short corner sailed past the line. Sharkia regrouped quickly and would draw level three minutes as skipper Ghobran Hossam finished off a good team move. Just before the Sharkia bench could sit down after celebrating the equalizer, Abdelmoneim Hamada gave them the second goal from a short corner. Sharkia made it clear that they were in for business as the team plundered home the third goal in the 24th minute through Hossam who was on top of his game. Exchequers pulled one back through Johny but their hopes of completing a comeback were extinguished in the 47th minute as Khaul Ayman drove home the fourth goal for Sharkia. Hossam said the two-year long hiatus from the continental championships helped them prepare adequately for this year’ edition. The club has now won the continental gong for a record 26 times. “We took a break from the continentals so as to prepare. I am glad that we have won it. It was quite some task considering that we came up against the top team in Ghana. We also played six matches in seven matches,” he said. Sharkia goalkeeper Hemid Mohammed was named the best in the tournament in the men’s category with Uko Martha of Delta Queens taking home the gong in the women’s side. GRA’s Vivian Narkour bagged the golden stick curtesy of the six goals she managed. The duo of Johny and Sunday Orinya of Nigeria’s Police Machine were declared the best scorers in the men’s catgeory. The two finished with eight goals apiece.   Source: mozzartsport.co.ke | February 18, 2023

          ACCC: Debutants Kisumu Lakers punch above weight to finish fourth

            Strathmore University and Blazers had a tournament to forget as watched foreign teams grace the podium Kenyan representatives in the Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament Lakers have given a good account of themselves after finishing fourth in their maiden appearance in the showpiece. Lakers came into the tournament as the least inexperienced team but the team, defied the odds to become the best performing local team in the contest that is scheduled to end on Sunday evening. The Kisumu based club would have finished in the top three but their efforts were frustrated by Nigeria’s Delta Queens who held them to a barren draw at Sikh Union in the penultimate group stage game. Had Lakers won the duel, they would have been guaranteed a place in the podium that will be graced by visiting teams at the expense of local ones. The Ghana Revenue Authority are expected to be declared champions during the closing ceremony as the outfit, finished top of the women’s group with thirteen points and twelve goals. The Ghanaian side, emerged the best on goal difference as they tied on points with their counterparts the Ghana Army who finished second although their goal difference was inferior to that of the former. Army rallied from a goal down to beat six-time champions Blazers of Kenya 3-2 in the final group stage game to finish second. Delta Queens settled will have to settle for bronze after garnering eleven points, a tally similar to that of Lakers but their superior goal difference will put their noses ahead of those of Kenyan girls. Against Army, Blazers who were looking to redeem themselves after punching below their weight in the tournament, took the lead through Rhoda Kuira who struck hardly two minutes into the game from a short corner. However, the lead lasted for only seven minutes as Army restored parity through Konadu Jennifer.  The Kenyan girls regained the lead four minutes after conceding through Joan Anjao but could not hold on the pressure from Army who leveled matters through Konadu again in the 33rd minute. Army got the match winning goal in the six minutes to the final whistle through Afriyie Lydia. Blazers would have forced a draw but Kuira failed to convert from the spot in the dying minutes of the game after she was hacked down in the area. Meanwhile, the recently crowned national champions Strathmore University wrapped their group stage matches sourly after falling 3-0 to eventual champions, GRA. Narkour Vivian struck twice from the field with skipper Elizabeth Opoku scoring from a short corner to guarantee GRA three more points and three goals.   Source: mozzartsport.co.ke | February 18, 2023

            Big plans lined up for Butali Warriors as club is likely to play friendly matches abroad

              The sugarmen are likely to finish third in the Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament National hockey champions Butali Warriors have tasted international action in the Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament that is slated to conclude on Sunday in Nairobi. The Butali Sugar Mills powered team, secured the license to participate in the tournament by virtue of being the men’s league champions. They stand to finish third in the tournament if they manage to whip Nigeria’s Police Machine in the playoff, scheduled for Sunday at Sikh Union. More international action could be on the pipeline for Butali in the future as the management is exploring the possibility of playing friendly matches in countries whose leagues are ranked higher than the Kenyan one. The club’s President Sanjay Patel revealed that the management, was interested in sending the team to South Africa and other countries for friendly matches that, will certainly help them gauge themselves against the continent’s crede de la creme. “We have big plans for the team including playing friendly matches outside the country. We are looking at countries whose leagues are stronger than ours, This, will help the players gain more experience,” he said. The club, that is under the tutelage of former Kenyan international Zack Aura has been enjoying sponsorship from the sugar company since 2014. Besides securing friendly matches with the best teams in the continent, the club boss disclosed that the idea of having a women’s team was also on the table.   Patel revealed that three unnamed teams had approached his office hoping to strike a deal but nothing had materialized as of yet. “It is an option we are also exploring. Three clubs had tabled proposals but we are yet to agree on anything,” he remarked. Meanwhile, Patel,petitioned the Cabinet Secretary for Sports Ababu Namwamba to channel more finances and support towards the game.   Source: mozzartsports.co.ke | February 18, 2023