ACCC 2018: Kada Queens frustrates GRA as Telkom grabs win on first day

A well motivated Kada queens side held defending champions GRA at the Abuja National Stadium in the opening match of the competition. Record title holders Telkom meanwhile beat Ghana Police 2-1 to go top of the table with two points adrift second placed Delta queens who were held to a 1-1 drawn game by debutants USIU-A. Kada Queens 0 – 0 GRA The competitons opening game did not give spectators a lot to cheer about as both teams failed to find the net. Defending champions GRA were anxious to defeat the only team they failed to beat en route to being crowned Champions last year in Accra, Ghana while the host wanted to keep smiles on the faces of spectators who had trooped in to rally behind them. The disciplined Kada defense kept their momentum throughout the game to keep the attacking force of GRA in check. GRA on the other hand had penalty corners come their way but their poor conversion rate with regards to penalty corners kept haunting them as they failed to find the net. Vivian Narkuoh seemed to have broken the deadlock but her goal was disallowed after the umpire spotted an infringement prior to the goal. The game ended and both teams shared the points. Ghana Police 1 – 2 Telkom The news of GRA’S frustrating draw sparked energy into the ladies from Kenya who stepped onto the turf with the sole aim of getting a win. Police ladies who will be playing GRA in their next game knew how important a win in this fixture will be for them in their quest for glory given their bad record against GRA in their last few encounters. Five minutes into the game and Telkom were up. Jacqueline Wangechi stepped up to slot home from a penalty corner with goalkeeper Abigail Boye totally beaten. The score line 1-0 travelled through the first three quarters with no additional goal. Three minutes into the final quarter and the scores were leveled; Sarfoa Martha going past two defenders and sliding the ball past ACCC 2017 Best Goalkeeper, Cynthia Onyango. However, the joy was cut short as Audrey Amooh restored the lead for Telkom two minutes later. Police ladies fought well in the last ten minutes for the equaliser but time was not on their side as Telkom carried the day. Delta Queens 1 – 1 USIU-A  Delta queens stepped onto the field to host debutants USIU in the final match of the ladies category.  Playing on a turf they are so familiar with, Delta dominated the game from the start and were awarded are penalty corner in the opening minutes. Esther Billo opened her goal scoring account with a ferocious hit into the bottom right corner. The host dictated the pace and tempo of the game with the crowd cheering on every single move and skill. Delta kept on hitting wide the chances that came their way and finally had to pay. A moment of the silence hit the entire stadium as Amutebi Pauline grabbed the equalizer for USIU – their very first goal in Africa. Both teams tried to get the winner but fairly had to share the points as the game ended. Day two continues tomorrow Sunday 16th December, 2018 with an all local affair. GRA and Police ladies start with the Ghanaian derby followed by the Kenyan derby Telkom and USIU. The last game of the day will see the host clubs battle; Delta queens and Kada queens.

ACCC18 – READY SET ABUJA

Source: isports360.com | December 13, 2018 All is set for the 2018 Africa Cup for Club Champions, Abuja-Nigeria. This year’s edition which will be the 30th since it’s inception will bring together 12 clubs from four countries. The Abuja National Stadium will be the centre of attraction as these clubs battle for the ultimate. In the male category, defending Champions El Sharkia and former champions Eastern Company from Egypt, Ghana’s duo of Exchequers Hockey Club and Ghana Revenue Authority Hockey team alongside Niger Flickers and Kada Stars from Nigeria will all be in action. The female category will see host clubs – Kada queens and Delta queens, Telkom Kenya and United States International University – Africa (USIU-A ) from Kenya and defending champions Ghana Revenue Authority ladies and Ghana Police ladies from Ghana . The tournament runs from December 15th – 22nd December, 2018.

ACCC18 – “We are confident and ready”- Richmond Attipoe

Source: isports360.com | December 13, 2018 Bank of Ghana’s pride, Exchequers Hockey Club will be among Ghana’s four team contingent at the 2018 Africa Cup for Club Champions to be staged in Abuja, Nigeria. The 2018 GAHA league champions are back to the continental stage after placing fifth in 2016 – Nairobi, Kenya. The team has trained and well prepared for the championship and isports360 caught up with Coach Attipoe after their last training session in Ghana before setting off. Isport: Congrats Coach on winning the GAHA league and also a qualification slot to Africa. How is the feeling like? Richmond Attipoe (RA): Thank you very much. It wasn’t an easy one but we were able to achieve. It’s a great feeling on winning the league and also back to Africa. Isports: How prepared is Exchequers for Africa? R.A: We are more prepared than ever. We have been training, planning and dreaming of this day and here we have it. It’s an honour to represent Ghana and we are so privileged to be part. We started training from the beginning of this year after narrowly missing out last season. We are very ready for Africa. Isports : How do you assess the mental state and physical fitness of your players? The players are in a good state. Most of them have been to the ACCC, Hockey World League and numerous international competitons, hence they are at ease and relaxed mentally. The players are physically fit, taking part in all training sessions with no injuries recorded. Isports : Do you feel pressurized as a Coach? R.A: Not at all. I’m someone who really likes working under pressure because it makes me deliver. The pressure will always come heading into tournaments of this sort but for me I’m calm and always deliver. Isports: Are we seeing new stars and if yes, which of them will deliver? R.A: Benjamin Kwofie is the name and I urge all teams to watch out for him. I promised to register him last season and I honored my word, gave him the opportunity and he delivered during the league. Isports : Which of the clubs will pose a threat to Exchequers? R.A: All the clubs present. I don’t want to single out any club because if you do so, the players become complacent when playing with the so called ‘weak teams’. Every team here is a champion and a threat and we will treat them as such. Coach Richmond Attippoe together with his able technical team released the 18-man squad heading for Abuja. Squad in full : Goalkeepers: Tyche Duisberg and Dontoh Simon. Outfield players: Osmanu Mohammed, Akaba Elikem, Arthur Ebenezer, Ofori Isaac, Obeng Emmanuel, Asante Alexander, Nyarko Nicholas, Akaba Elorm, Apronti Sylvester, Adams John, Ankomah Emmanuel, Osei Maxwell, Dzotsi Eric, Kwofie Benjamin, Bempah Daniel Nana and Mensah Samuel. The team left the country on Monday 10th December, 2018. The 2018 ACCC will be staged in Abuja, Nigeria from 15th December – 22nd December, 2018 at the National Stadium, Abuja.

ACCC18 – Kenyan Women’s Teams Depart for Abuja

Source:  #kenyahockeyunion  | December 13, 2018 This morning, Women’s Premier League sides Telkom and USIU-A departed for Abuja, Nigeria for the 2018 edition of Africa Cup for Club Champions. The two teams got the nod for participation following a top two finish in 2017’s KHU women’s Premier League and will be needed to adjust fast for the tournament that starts in two day’s time. Telkom, who are fresh from clinching the Premier League title, will be seeking to reclaim the continental crown which eluded them last year after losing narrowly in the finals. USIU on their part also aim to match their counterparts’ performances. Kenya will however not be represented in the Men’s category this year after both Kenya Police and new Champions Butali Warriors pulled out of the competition, citing various reasons. The entire Kenya Hockey Union fraternity wishes Telkom and USIU all the best in Nigeria and we hope they will represent the country to their best. #kenyahockeyunion #fieldhockeyke