The Nigerians got us underway in match day two as Nigeria super league champions Kada Queens engaged Yobe Dessert Queens. As expected of every local derby, the match was played under tensed moments with both teams needing a win badly after losing respective opening matches.
Justina Onyedum and skipper Ajuma Ejengwa stood out tall in the Yobe setup troubling the Kada Queens team.
The first, second and third quarters travelled barren with both teams eager and anxious to make a mark. The game which had been boring to spectators who had made their way into the stadium still had exciting moments to come
Kada Queens, started the fourth quarter with a more attacking style of play which made the Yobe desert defence very uncomfortable and prone to mistakes. Kada queens were awarded a penalty stroke in the 51st minute after Ikiriko Bomiegha’s powerful hit was stopped on the goal line by a field player in the person of Ajuma Ejengwa. Ikiriko stepped up to take the penalty stroke and made no mistake to slot the ball home.
The match ended with Kada queens 1-0 winners over Yobe Queens.
Defending champions Telkom hockey club, then took to the pitch to take on Strathmore in the all Kenyan affair. After failing to beat Telkom in as many matches, Coach Senge and ladies came solely to end that bad run.
Telkom started the match on their slow pace as usual with Strathmore playing more offensive and fast. The match saw chances being created at both ends with Okumu Gilly of Strahmore getting the most. Joint top scorer in the competition so far, Lucy Wangechi failed to replicate her performance in the opening game as Atigo Barbara and Bariti Diana in the Strathmore defence put her in check. The best chance though fell to Audrey Amooh in the 20th minute, but the young attacker one on one with goalkeeper Otieno Maria couldn’t make good use of it.
Telkom started to mount pressure on Strathmore in the third and final quarter. However, the champions maintaind composure and finally got that match winner. AmoohAudery who had a goal disallowed earlier, took advantage of a defensive error to punsh Strathmore. The final whistle went with Kenya league champions Telkom beating strathmore by a lone goal to go top in the ladies category.
Coach Jos Openda speaking after the match, said, “We knew how difficult the match would turn out after watching them play their opening game. We saw how fast and offensive they were and hence stuck to our slow pacy style which worked. We will keep it calm and see if we can defend the trophy”.
Ghana’s duo of league champions GRA and runner’s up Police ladies gave the entire stadium something to cheer about in the last derby match of the day.
It was a game of interest to Ghanaians in their quest to lift the trophy. After winning respective opening matches, GRA and Police ladies came into this game highly motivated. A game which did not see more chances created, still gave the home crowd a feel of a local derby.
A misunderstanding in defence gifted Elizabeth Opoku a glorious chance and the Ghanaian international made no mistake slotting the ball home. The former SWAG (Sports Writers Association of Ghana) female hockey player of Ghana who has been missing in the competition steeped up and proved to be the decider.
Ghana Police ladies led by Umaru Nafisatu dominated the third and fourth quater but GRA’s defense came to being especially Fosua Emelia who made two timely goal bound interventions.The game ended with GRA 1-0 winners.
The win puts GRA joint top with Telkom while Ghana Police ladies maintain their third spot with 3 points. a win in the Nigeria derby takes kada queens to 4th place same points with Ghana Police but difference in goals. Strathmore and Yobe desert queens who are both yet to win and score a goal in this competition complete the table in 5th and 6th respectively.
