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