ACCC: Lakers and Strathmore drop points in Thursday’s action

    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

    Lakers disarm Ghana Army in ACCC tourney

      Lakers, who are debuting at the annual competition, were a class act and dictated the game from the second quarter to the end. In Summary • The win saw the Austin Tuju-coached Lakers top the log with seven points, a point better off than second-placed Army. • Elsewhere, Nigeria’s Police Machine silenced Zimbabwe’s Hippo 4-2. Henry Olanyinka scored a hattrick for Machine in the third, 16th and 47th minutes respectively. Alice Owiti and Aurelia Opondo scored for Lakers as the Kenyans beat Army Ladies of Ghana 2-0 at the ongoing African Club Championships at the City Park Stadium on Wednesday. Lakers, who are debuting at the annual competition, were a class act and dictated the game from the second quarter to the end. Owiti and Opondo scored in the 15th and 42nd minutes respectively to give the Kisumu-based side their second win in the week-long competition. The win saw the Austin Tuju-coached Lakers top the log with seven points, a point better off than second-placed Army. In the men’s category, Ghana Revenue Authority beat Moshi Khalsa from Tanzania 10-1. The trio of Courage Boyefio, Ernest Opoku and Godsway Adae all grabbed braces. Luke Kofi, Joshua Kwaku, Assah Akwasio and Christopher Dogbe managed one goal apiece. James Paulo scored a consolation for Moshi. Elsewhere, Nigeria’s Police Machine silenced Zimbabwe’s Hippo 4-2. Henry Olanyinka scored a hattrick for Machine in the third, 16th and 47th minutes respectively. Sunday Orinya also got himself on the scoresheet in the 43rd minute. Gift Chomunorwa and Tatenda Kanyangarara found the back of the net for Hippo.   Source:star.co.ke | February 15, 2023

      South African Hockey declines invitation to the FIH Pro League

        February 15, 2023 Following the South African Hockey Men’s victory at the FIH Nations Cup in Potchefstroom the team had earned a spot in the FIH Pro League subject to specific financial obligations being met by the January deadline and as a result we could not accept our place in this competition. Since the beginning of 2022, the South African Hockey Association secured funding to pay for the Men’s Pro League, the Aslan Shah Cup in Malaysia, the Men and Women Nations Cups as well as both Men and Women World Cup events. We won the Men’s Nations Cup at the beginning of December and the due date for submission to the FIH was on 16 January 2023. With the short timelines, our ability to communicate effectively was compromised. The South African Hockey Association is immensely proud of the strides that our national Hockey teams are making and we are simultaneously disappointed that we could not secure a sponsor to support the positive progress of our men’s program by having our team play in the pro league 23/24 with those short timelines. As a National Federation our annual revenue is less than the amount required to fulfil the minimum financial requirement by the FIH for entry into the pro league (Approximately R10 million). However, discussions will be held with the team as we continue working to give them the best opportunity to maintain their positive trend. We hope that results of our teams as well as the results at the recent indoor world cup will open the eyes of corporate South Africa to the opportunity of supporting the efforts of our national teams. As the South African Hockey Association, we have 8 national teams to take care of with limited funding, hence players having to pay for certain events and preparation for events.