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

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

Lakers have a slim chance of winning the women’s title Sharkia of Egypt will take on Ghanaian hockey giants Exchequers in the title decider of the Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament on Sunday at Sikh Union. Sharkia who won the tournament on Kenyan soil in 2017 booked a date with Exchequers after topping group B of the men’s tournament. The Egyptian played Nigeria’s Police Machine to 2-2 draw in the final group stage match, a result that saw them book a place in the final on goal difference grounds as they tied on points with the latter. Exchequers on the other hand, advanced to the final at the expense of Kenyan champions Butali Warriors who finished second in group A. Exchequers, beat Western Jaguars 3-2 in the final group stage game to also qualify on goal difference as their point tally was equal to that of Butali. Both Butali and Exchequers finished with thirteen points but the latter’s goal difference stood at fifteen goals, three more of the sugarmen. Butali had initially hoped that Jaguars will do them a favour by frustrating the Ghanaians but that, never came to pass and as a result, they will take on Police Machine in the playoff. The final is expected to kick off at 4:00pm East African time with the playoff, kicking off at noon. Meanwhile, Kenyan girls Lakers have a slim chance of clinching the women’s tournament. The Kisumu based club is ranked third with ten points, a tally that coincides with that of Delta Queens of Nigeria and log leaders GRA of Ghana who double up as the defending champions. GRA and Delta have a better goal difference than Lakers who are debuting at the continental level. Lakers will be hoping to beat Delta on Sunday and at the same time, pray that Strathmore University Scorpions sting GRA, outcomes, that will see them clinch the title. Source: mozzartsports.co.ke | February 18, 2023

Jaguars are set to play Ghana’s Exchequers at 3:00 pm Kenyan hockey champions Butali Warriors have their calculators ready! This is after the sugarmen beat Egypt’s Zamalek 2-0 in their final group A match of the ongoing Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament at Sikh Union on Saturday morning. A field goal from Moses Ademba and a successful conversion from a short corner by Rana Suhail were enough to give Butali a win over Zamalek who finished third in the group. The win took Zack Aura‘s charges to the summit of the group with thirteen points and an equal number of goals. For Butali to seal a place in the final scheduled to be played on Sunday at the same venue, they have to finish top of the group. Standing between them and a place in the final is the outcome of the game between Ghanaian side Exchequers who are set to play the Kakamega-based Western Jaguars at 3:00 pm. Exchequers who are unbeaten just like Butali, are placed second with ten points and have fourteen goals against their name. Should the visiting team beat Jaguars, they will advance to the final at the expense of Butali who will have to contend with playing the playoff against the first runner up of group B. If Jaguars frustrate Exchequers, then Butali will be assured of playing the decider that will pit them against the top team from group B. Aura, regretted that the 2-2 draw against Exchequers dour days ago, has come back to haunt them as they find themselves on their knees praying for Jaguars to perform a miracle that will certainly benefit them. “I am really proud of my boys for the spirited performance they put in against Zamalek. We should have won by a bigger margin from the chances created. Truth be told, the draw against Exchequers is a threat to our march to the final. Hopefully, Jaguars will do us a favour,” said the former Kenyan international. Much as they lost the opportunity to battle for a medal by virtue of finishing third in the group, Zamalek midfielder Amr Elhady said the team picked up valuable lessons from the tournament. “We had a chance of finishing in the top two bracket but sadly, we lost to Butali. Obviously, we are disappointed with the results but at least, we have managed to learn a thing or two from the tournament. It was well organised,” he said. Meanwhile, the clash between Kenyan teams that are participating in the tournament in the women’s category; Strathmore University Scorpions and Lakers ended in favour of the latter who won the duel by a solitary goal. Pauline Atieno settled the contest after sounding the boards in the 37th minute through a field goal. Earlier on at Sikh Union, Kenya Police finished their group stage matches on a sour note after bowing 3-0 to Ghana Rwve.   Source: mozzartsports.co.ke | February 18, 2023

The Egyptian side is set to face Butali Warriors on Saturday in the ongoing Africa Cup for Club Champions The Zamalek Sporting Club is well known in the country, region and continent for its performance in the Egyptian football league and CAF matches. The Giza based club is one of the most successful clubs in Africa having won accolades in the more than one hundred years of its existence. Their brothers, the Zamalek Hockey Club has been doing duty in Nairobi in the Africa Cup of Club Champions tournament that started on Monday and is set to end on Sunday. Although the hockey outfit is not well known unlike the football side, the team is in Nairobi to make itself a name in the continent. To achieve this, the club’s midfielder Amr Elhady believes that a third place finish will spur them stardom just like the White Knights. Elhady who watched his side beat Kenyan side Western Jaguars 1-0 in the penultimate group stage game played on Friday evening said finishing inside the top three bracket will suffice. The midfielder who could not be called for duty thanks to an injury said grabbing a medal in Nairobi will be a good starting their bid to become continental hockey giants. Zamalek are ranked third with nine points, a tally similar to that of Kenyan champions Butali Warriors whom they will faced off on Saturday in the final group stage match. Exchequers of Ghana top the log with ten points and will face Jaguars tomorrow. “I am not surprised to see that the Zamalek football club and President Mortada are famous in Kenya. It is the success they have achieved over the years that makes them popular. We want to follow suit and make the hockey side known and followed as well. We share the same sponsors with the football side although we are stationed in different camps,” he said. Mohamed Elsayed’s penalty corner in the 24th minute settled the contest against Jaguars who were guilty of flapping clear cut chances especially in the final quarter. Jaguars head coach Michael Malungu once again insisted on the need by Kenyan teams to work on their art of scoring. “The best team lost because we could not score from the chances we created. I have observed that Kenyan teams are good in progressing the ball but not clinical in finishing,” he said.   Source: mozzartsports.co.ke | February 17, 2023

Atsu is still missing days after an earthquake hit parts of Turkey and Syria The world is still praying for positive news on Ghana national football team winger, Christian Atsu. The former Newcastle player is agonizingly missing following the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6 and has so far, claimed thousands of lives according to reports. The search for Atsu who plies his trade with Turkish top tier side Hatayspor is still ongoing even as the world continues to hope that, he and others who are unaccounted for, will be rescued alive. There were conflicting reports that suggested that the former Everton man had been pulled from the rubble alive last week, but his club has since rubbished the news. No one understands how disturbing and pain the news touching on the whereabouts of the former Chelsea man more than his family and the Ghanaians. I caught up with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) women’s hockey team that is currently holed in Nairobi for the ongoing Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament and one thing was clear, Atsu’s well-being was a concern to them just like all other warm-hearted Ghanaians. GRA head coach Yiadom Osei Boakye said the best way to express their thoughts and solaces to the Atsu family is by retaining the title that is currently in their possession. “We are here to make our families and country proud. We really want to retain the title for our sponsors have invested heavily in the team. Above all, we want to win it for the Atsu family. I will keep on reminding my girls to always put up prayers for him and his family,” said the veteran tactician shortly after their 4-1 over Kenyan side Lakers on Thursday. Joining in sharing GRA’s sentiments was the Ghana Army ladies’ coach CPOI Taylor Patrick who regretted that the former Malaga flanker had not been traced days after the unfortunate struck some parts of the two countries. Patrick who serves the Ghana Navy labeled the missing player as an one of the best ambassadors the West African country had littered in different parts of the world. “The Ghanaian sporting fraternity is united in prayers for Atsu and his family. He has been a good ambassador for the country for years and the best we can is to win this tournament for him. It is our hope that he will be rescued soon,” he said. Apart from the GRA and Army teams, Ghana has two more teams in the Mozzart Bet powered tournament that is scheduled to end on Sunday. The other teams are the Exchequers and the Ghana Army that are placed in the men’s pools.   Source: mozzartsports.co.ke | February 17, 2023

Strathmore University Scorpions lost 2-1 to Delta Queens Kenyan teams had a morning to forget after tasting defeat in the ongoing Africa Cup for Club Champions on Friday. Kenya Police were no match to the Police Machine of Nigeria as the hosts lost 3-1 at Sikh Union to bow out of the tournament. The recently crowned women’s league champions Strathmore University Scorpions were stung 2-1 by Delta Queens of Nigeria at City Park hockey Stadium. Police who were bidding to overcome the Nigerian team and enhance their chances of jostling for gold in the decider had themselves to blame as the Patrick Mugambi coached side wasted clear cut chances and were not clinical in converting the short corners. Machine took the lead in the 23rd minute through Sunday Orinya who tapped in the ball from close range after the Kenyan team failed to deal with an attack launched in their area. The Nigerian team doubled its advantage in the 47th minute through Emmanuel Sunday who sounded the board in a well-worked field goal. The hosts halved the deficit in the 55th minute courtesy of veteran defender Samuel Oungo who struck from the spot after Machine’s goalkeeper brought Mathew Momanyi down. Efforts by Police to stage a comeback were put off as Machine scored the third goal through Sunday who was a thorn in the flesh of the Kenyan side. Reacting to the defeat, Mugambi could not hide his frustration with the wasted chances and the general display that he noted was way below their potential. “We were not clinical enough today. We failed to score from the numerous short corners. We got punished for the mistakes we made,” he remarked. Mugambi was backed by the club skipper Victor Wanyama who was quick to note that all the departments were not clicking in the four quarters. At City Park, Scorpions failed to return to winning ways after falling to Delta. Heading into the game, Meshack Senge’s charges were looking to get back to winning ways after playing Ghana Army to a 1-1 draw on Thursday. However, the students fell to a brace from Obukowho Faith who sounded the board through field goals. Melvin Muga got the consolation for the Kenyan side. Meanwhile, Butali Warriors were handed a walkover as Kada Stars failed to show up. The reigning league champions were supposed to play Kada after the duel pitting Police against Machine.   Source: mozzartsports.co.ke | February 17, 2023

Kisumu Lakers were awarded a walkover win on Tuesday after Nigerian side Kada Queens failed to show up for the tournament. Lakers Hockey Club have impressed in the opening matches of the ongoing Africa Cup for Club Champions (ACCC)  Nairobi. In three games, the Kisumu-based side have manged two wins, including a walkover and a draw. Lakers opener was against multiple Kenyan champions Blazers whom they managed to hold to a 1-1 draw.  Blazers pipped Lakers to number two spot in last season’s Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Women’s Premier League. Nigerian side Kada Queens did not make the trip to Nairobi, handing Lakers a walkover in their second fixture. To prove their worth, the Austin Tuju-coached side recorded an impressive 2-0 win over Ghanaian opponents Army Ladies. Despite the good showing on the pitch, the team is still not settled financially, and are appealing for support from corporates and well wishers. “We pleaded with the organisers to allow us participate and honor our fixtures as we look for money to pay for match expenses,” Lakers Team Manager John Paul Otieno told Mozzart Sport. According to a communication from the KHU before the start of the tournament, clubs had to pay a participation fee of Ksh 40,000, daily accommodation for two; an umpire and a judge at Ksh13,456, and their daily allowance of Ksh 3,738. “It’s not been easy, but girls have showed great determination to make history. If we can give them something as a token of appreciation, I know they can be more motivated to do even better. My appeal is to the corporate world and well wishers to stand with us and the ladies.” Lakers are participating in the continental championship for the very first time. The team has only featured in the Kenyan league for two seasons.   Source: mozzartsports.co.ke | February 16, 2023

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