President’s Cup Day 1 – Malawi Announce their return with an Emphatic Win Over Hosts

    The Malawi Sticks, the men’s team of Malawi marked their return to International hockey in Africa with a sound 3-1 bashing of hosts Tanzania. Malawi, whose last participation in international competition was in All Africa Games hosted by South Africa in 1999, announced their strong intention to compete for honours on the continent. An almost 2 decades of absence from the international scene may have weighed heavily on Malawi hockey, but the Malawi Sticks sent a positive signal home that hockey in Malawi, if adequately supported, can win laurels for the country. Malawi started strongly but were held at bay in the first quarter by a confident Tanzanian team who were confident they would scale this first hurdle of the competition. Seven minutes into the second quarter, Malawi drew first blood with a well taken goal from open play courtesy James Bandawe. Tanzania shook off the shock and carried the game to the Malawians. The continuous raid on the goal area of Malawi yielded result with Sunny D’Souza levelling the scores for the hosts in the 28th minute to end the half. The third quarter saw a lot of action but did not register any goals. The final quarter saw a battle for dominance with play swinging from one end to the other. It was however the Malawians who went ahead through a penalty stroke converted by Daniel Matavata in the 52nd minute. Tanzania threw everything into the game to redeem a point but in the process, they slackened at the back and the Malawians capitalized on that to punish them with a third goal a minute from the end of the match with a field goal by Denollye Mgeni. Earlier in the women’s encounter, Zambia inflicted misery on the hosts Tanzania with a 3-1 victory. Zambia led 1-0 at end of the first quarter through a lovely goal by Loveness Mudenda from open play. Tanzania came back strongly to draw level from a penalty corner converted by Shakira Mtenji to end the first half. The third quarter was evenly contested with no goals registered. It was however the Zambians who run away with victory in the first of three matches scoring twice through Carol Nakombe (47th minute) from open play, and Eniless Mambwe (56th minute) from a penalty corner. Day two will feature only one men’s match with hosts Tanzania seeking to rebound from the defeat to Malawi with an emphatic win over Zambia.  

    TD and UM Hold Briefing for Teams and Officiating Officials

      The Tournament Director and the Umpires’ Manager took turns to brief the teams and the officiating officials on the arrangements for the AfHF President’s Cup competition. The TD drew the attention to key aspects of the FIH Tournament Regulations that will guide the competition while the UM took his umpires through the salient issues to keep an eye on to ensure a free flowing game at all time to offer spectators gratifying entertainment while keeping a firm control at all times. The well mowed and manicured grass surface of the Twigas Club, looks set to withstand the anticipated pressure it will be subjected to from the upcoming battles between the nations. Meanwhile, all the teams have arrived in Arusha, settled comfortably and ready to do battle for honours. The action gets underway at 14:30Hours tomorrow (22/02/17) with the ladies’ category which will see the hosts Tanzania welcome Zambia. At 16:30Hours, the men’s competition starts with the hosts Tanzania welcoming Malawi back into African Hockey competition.

      Teams and Officials Start Arriving for the Showdown in Arusha

        With the commencement of the first Edition of the AfHF President’s Cup in a matter of days, the officiating officials and the visiting teams have started arriving in Arusha to make final adjustments for the big event. The Tournament Director, Ahmed E. Youssef of Egypt, the Umpires’ Manager, Ediga Agbo of Nigeria and the two Neutral Umpires, Tony Fernandes and Peter Obalo both of Kenya have arrived and in full preparations for the big event. The officiating officials have been inspecting the facilities in the company of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) to ensure that everything is well aligned accordingly. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is providing Tournament Management System (TMS) services for the tournament as part of the regular support extended to Continental Federations for organizing tournaments. Exciting times await hockey fans in Arusha and online via Twitter (@AfrHockey) and Facebook.

        Arusha Ready for the First Edition of the African Hockey Federation (AfHF) President’s Cup

          All is set for the Tanzania Hockey Association to host the first ever AfHF President’s Cup for both men and women at the Sikh Union Complex, formerly known as the Arusha Twigas Sport Club, in Arusha during the period February 22 to 26. The President’s Cup is a newly introduced competition by the AfHF and it is opened to all National Associations ranked below 7 in African Hockey according to the outdoor ranking published by the FIH. The winners of both categories will join the top 7 ranked African nations for the 2017 Edition of the AfHF Africa Cup for Nations Competition to be held in South Africa during the period August 18-27. The Local organizing Committee (LOC) has worked hard to ensure that preparations are on track to host the event which will bring together three (3) national teams made up of the hosts Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi. Tanzania Hockey has the experience in hosting international club competition, but this will be the first time it will host an international tournament at the continental level, and the LOC is confident that the decision to host the event in Arusha will further boost and promote the game in the region in particular and the country in general. Tanzania Hockey is relying on a syndication of sponsorship from various sources including corporate entities to organize this important event. The AfHF is particularly excited to have Malawi back in competition and vying for continental honors once again and is hopeful that the competition will trigger a wave of renewed interest and excitement towards hockey in National Associations in Eastern Africa. The Competition will be supervised by Ahmed Yousef of Egypt (Tournament Director) and Ediga Agbo of Nigeria (Umpires Manager) with officials drawn from the three participating nations and Kenya.

          Eastern Company of Egypt

          ACCC 2016 Final Day – Defending Champions Retain Titles

            On a day of excitement and under the watch of a packed stadium of fans and dignitaries, defending women’s champions Orange Club of Kenya and men’s champions Eastern Company Club of Egypt came out tops after 9 days of fantastic and competitive hockey. Orange proved their dominance in the women’s competition in recent years making it 5 championships in a row with victory over old campaigners GRA (formerly known as CEPS) of Ghana. The match was fiercely contested but it was the Kenyans who had the extra edge tactically, technically and physically to claim the spoils with a 2-0 win. Orange made sure of a record 10 championships out of 20 since the inception of the women’s competition in 1996. GRA, who boast of a good number of the Ghana National Women’s hockey team, put up a spirited fight but that was not enough to overcome the strength, speed and agility of the Orange ladies. The Bronze medal match was won by Kada Queens of Nigeria who fought back from 2 goals down to beat compatriots and former champions Heartlands 4-2. Ghana Police Women placed 5th beating Sharkia 6-2, while Sliders of Kenya came in 7th after Sharkia of Egypt beating Wananchi of Uganda 3-0. Dar Ladies of Tanzania condemned Weatherhead of Uganda to the bottom of the placings beating them 1-0 to place 9th. In the men’s competition, looked to have started a new dynasty taking over from compatriots Sharkia with the successful defence of their title. When many thought the Egyptian dominance of the 28 year old competition was about to be broken due to losses inflicted on both Sharkia and Eastern in the Group stages, Eastern picked themselves up to pull through to the semi-finals. Again, when the thronging fans and media pundits thought the much fancied homesters Butali Warriors were going to finally push the Egyptian opposite aside, Eastern held their own and dispatched the Warriors in a tense penalty shootout after 70 minutes of thrilling hockey which ended in a 2-2 stalemate. Eastern Company needed to overcome another Kenyan opposition to retain their title after Kenya Police saw off Ghana Police in the clash of the Policemen. The Kenyan Police made light work of their Ghanaian opponents brushing them aside with a 4-1 victory. The stage was thus set for an exciting men’s final and in front of a packed and cheering stadium, the match lived up to its billing. After 70 minutes of a thrilling encounter which ended goalless, the shootout was to determine the champions. Eastern missed one attempt at goal and lead 3-2 at the 4th shoot out for both teams. Police however failed to convert their 5th and final shootout when Eastern goalie pulled of a save. Eastern celebrated to the disappointment of the packed stadium of hopeful Kenyan fans. Butali Warriors put in a good effort to soothe the pain of the home fans by winning the bronze, beating debutants Ghana Police 3-0. Record championship winners Sharkia, finished the competition in a very unfamiliar distant 5th position beating Exchequers 3-2 in a tight contest. Niger Flickers of Nigeria came in 7th beating Weatherhead of Uganda 8-0 in the classification match. Wananchi of Uganda placed 9th and bottom of the classifications. For many who have followed the ACCC over the years, they believe the level of hockey exhibited points to the beginning of a new era where the dominance of Sharkia ends and others take over. The thrills of the competition brought to the fore that although Eastern retained their crown, it was achieved against a very tight opposition which resulted in a one game loss during the Group stages. Some individual awards were handed out to outstanding performers courtesy of sponsors Hockey Farm of Ghana and Kenya. In the women’s competition, Aya Mahmoud of Sharkia Ladies won the best goalie after she stood solid for a very improved Sharkia team. The top scorer was jointly won by Elizabeth Opoku of GRA Ghana and Wangechi Mwangi Jaqueline of Orange Kenya with 9 goals each. In the men’s competition, Shehata Elrazek Farahat of Eastern won the best goalie while Emmanuel Ankomah of Exchequers of Ghana won the top scorer with 8 goals to his credit.