The Kisumu-based club had lost their opening match to defending champions Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Kenya’s representatives at the Africa Cup for Club Champions (ACCC) in Harare registered mixed, but encouraging results in the opening days of the continental tournament. Lakers Hockey Club bounced back from an opening defeat to claim a commanding victory, while USIU-A announced their arrival with an impressive win in the men’s competition. Lakers began their women’s campaign on a difficult note, losing 2-0 to defending champions Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Despite a competitive first half, the Kenyan champions were unable to match GRA’s intensity in the closing stages. Head coach Austin Tuju attributed the defeat to fatigue. “We had the match-up until mid-second quarter. Maybe fatigue had a lot to do with our slack performance in the third and fourth quarters. We expect better performances, and we are going for nothing but wins in our next matches,” said Tuju. On the second day of competition, Lakers produced a dominant display to defeat Hippo Hockey Club of Zimbabwe 4-1, reigniting their campaign. Milicent Adhiambo starred with a brace, while Alice Owiti and Debra Otieno added a goal each. The victory kept Lakers firmly in contention in the four-team women’s pool, which also includes Bulawayo and GRA. In the men’s competition, USIU-A convincingly opened their campaign with a 4-1 victory over Kampala Hockey Club of Uganda. Goals from Brian Ogenche, Borris Lukorito, Lawrence Makhatsa and Robinson Omutekete sealed a confident performance for the Kenyan students, who are competing in a demanding Pool A alongside Egyptian giants Sharkia and Portfouad, School of Excellence (Namibia) and Kampala. Coach John Kabuu was pleased with the opening result, but called for sharper finishing. “Good start for the boys. We can only build from that. We need to be more clinical upfront in the forthcoming games,” said Kabuu. The win gave USIU-A early momentum as they navigate one of the toughest groups in the tournament. Both Kenyan sides face crucial fixtures as the group stages intensify. Lakers will finish their round-robin matches against Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) on Monday, 26 January, USIU-A Sunday, take on Portfouad (Egypt) on Monday, 26 January. They will then face SoEHC (Namibia) on Wednesday, 28 January, before closing their pool matches against Sharkia (Egypt) on Thursday, 29 January. The top teams from the pools will progress to the classification and semi-final rounds scheduled for 30 and 31 January. With Lakers now back on track and USIU-A off to a strong start, Kenyan hopes remain alive in both competitions. For Lakers, consistency will be key in their bid to challenge women’s defending champions GRA, while USIU-A’s young squad will be tested against the experience and structure of Egypt’s top clubs. As the ACCC enters its decisive phase, Kenya’s representatives will be aiming to convert promising early signs into sustained continental success. Source: mozzartsport.co.ke | 26.01.26

The men and women’s hockey teams of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Wednesday left for Harare, Zimbabwe, to represent Ghana at the 2026 Africa Cup Club Championship (ACCC), scheduled for January 24-31. They secured the slots after impressive performances in the domestic league. The men’s team finished second in the Salpholda Hockey League, while the women’s team were crowned champions to earn qualification to the continental showpiece. The Royal Ladies head into the tournament as defending champions of the women’s division and are aiming to defend their title and chase a historic sixth continental crown. They will open their campaign against Lakers Hockey Club of Kenya, before taking on Bulawayo Hockey Club and Hippo Hockey Club, both from Zimbabwe. The GRA men’s team has been drawn into Pool B, where they will face Hotspurs, Bulawayo Hockey Club, and Hippo Hockey Club, all from Zimbabwe. The men are targeting a podium finish this year after previously ending their campaigns at the classification stage. Speaking ahead of departure, women’s Head Coach, Ida Marmon, expressed confidence in her squad’s readiness and ambition. “We are going to bring the trophy back. By God’s grace, we will return with it. The girls have trained well and I can confidently say they are 100 per cent fit for the competition,” she assured. Madam Marmon added that she was not burdened by pressure heading into the tournament. The Men’s Head Coach, Victor Sowah, is also confident his side would shine at the championship, saying, “So far, I believe we have done everything required in terms of preparation. The responsibility now lies with us to go there and perform according to plan,” he stated. Addressing expectations, Coach Sowah noted that the men’s competition was always competitive and that reflected in the kind of training the team went through. He acknowledged the defensive lapses observed during the league season but assured that corrective measures have been taken. Coach Sowah commended the GRA administration for their immense support, adding that “the best way to appreciate the effort from management is to win the championship in both categories.” Source: Ghanaian Times | January 23, 2026

Sat 17.01.26. | 15:31 Kenya will be represented across both competitions by United States International University-Africa (USIU-A) in the men’s tournament and Lakers Hockey Club in the women’s event. Kenyan hockey clubs have learned their fate at the 2026 Africa Cup for Club Champions (ACCC) following the release of the official fixtures for the continental showpiece, scheduled for Saturday, 24 to Saturday, 31 January at St. John’s College Astro Turf in Harare, Zimbabwe. Kenya will be represented across both competitions by United States International University-Africa (USIU-A) in the men’s tournament and Lakers Hockey Club in the women’s event. USIU-A have been drawn into men’s Pool A, a competitive group that includes Egyptian heavyweights Sharkia and Portfouad, Uganda’s Kampala Hockey Club, and Namibia’s School of Excellence Hockey Club (SoEHC). The students will open their campaign on Sunday, 25 January, with a crucial clash against Kampala Hockey Club before taking on Portfouad on Monday, 26 January. USIU-A will then face SoEHC on Wednesday, 28 January, before closing their pool matches against Sharkia on Thursday, 29 January. The fixtures present USIU-A with an immediate test of depth and consistency, particularly against Sharkia, who enter the tournament as the defending men’s champions and one of the most dominant club sides in African hockey history. Only the top teams progress to the knockout stages, meaning the Kenyan side will need strong early results to remain in contention. In the women’s competition, Lakers Hockey Club will compete in a single round-robin pool featuring four teams. The Kenyan champions will waste no time settling in, opening the tournament on Saturday, 24 January, against Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) – the defending women’s champions. Lakers will then face Hippo Hockey Club of Zimbabwe on Sunday, 25 January, followed by Bulawayo Hockey Club on Monday, 26 January, completing their pool matches within the first three days of the tournament. With only four teams involved, every match carries significant weight, and Lakers will be targeting a top-two finish to secure a place in the final scheduled for Saturday, 31 January. Beyond the Kenyan interest, the men’s competition features two pools. Pool B includes Ghana Revenue Authority, Hotspurs Hockey Club of Zambia, Bulawayo Hockey Club and Hippo Hockey Club of Zimbabwe, setting up a balanced contest for the semi-final slots. The knockout phase for the men’s tournament will begin on Friday, 30 January, with classification matches and semi-finals, before the final on Saturday evening. Source: mozzartsport.co.ke

FIXTURES: 36th Men & 27th Women editions of the Africa Cup for Club Champions [ACCC] taking place at the St. John’s College Astro Turf in Harare, Zimbabwe during the period 24-31 January 2026.