ACCC 34M-25W – Karanja issues Blazers rallying call ahead of Ghana Revenue Authority test

    Blazers Hockey Club are confident of toppling nemesis Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) ahead of their Wednesday clash as the 2023 Africa Cup for Club Champions Tournament (ACCC) enters its penultimate stage in Blantyre, Malawi. After three matches, both Blazers and GRA found themselves tied on seven points with three matches left in the seven-team round-robin tournament. Blazers who have scored 27 goals in three matches are currently unbeaten and captain Tracy Karanja said they are going to put in more effort to ensure they maintain their unbeaten streak. Speaking via a phone interview from Blantyre, Karanja said they are confident they can topple GRA despite struggling against the Ghanaian side when they last met in Nairobi last February. “One of our goals when we landed in Malawi was to win the tournament and so far we are on track. A win today over GRA whom we know are a very good side will give us the upper hand,” said Karanja who thanked the Ministry of Sports for sponsoring them in Malawi. “Historically, we have played many times and we have won and they have won some matches but that is not our focus. We are taking one game at a time and we know we will put our best forward.” Blazers began the tournament with a 13-1 win over Genetrix before sharing the spoils in a barren draw with Lakers Hockey Club. On Monday, they hammered Scorpions 14-0. “We wanted not to concede any goal in the tournament but we were unlucky against Genetrix. That’s hockey however. We want to win it in the end. We want not only to be on the podium alone but also with our fellow Kenyan team come Sunday,” concluded Karanja. Lakers and Western Jaguars are the other Kenyan clubs in Malawi. Source: standardmedia.co.ke | November 21, 2023

    ACCC 34M-25W – Kisumu Lakers hold defending champions GRA to maintain top spot in Malawi

      Lakers Hockey Club on Tuesday maintained their unbeaten run at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup for Club Champions Tournament (ACCC) after playing out to a 2-2 draw against Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in in Blantyre, Malawi. Vivian Narkuor gave GRA the lead in the fifth minute of the match as coach Osei Boagye planned more tactical set plays on the touchline.  However, Lakers refused to bow down to the Ghanaians like they did last February when they lost 4-1 in Nairobi. Kenyan international Aurelia Opondo leveled the scores at 1-1 after finishing off a well-orchestrated team goal in the eighth minute. A tight second quarter match-up followed as both teams failed to score to end the match 1-1 at halftime. In the final half, Harriette Night gave Lakers a 2-1 lead after netting in the 36th minute of the third quarter, a lead that just as the first quarter would last only three minutes. This is after Narkuor bagged her brace and GRA’s second to tie the scores at 2-2. Another barren fourth quarter saw Lakers pick a vital point and maintain their unbeaten run in Malawi. After four matches, Lakers lead the standings with eight points followed by Blazers and GRA both with seven points ahead of their match-up today. Lakers started the tournament with a 12-0 win over Scorpions before drawing 0-0 with Blazers on Sunday. A whopping 15-0 win over Capital Braves from Malawi followed on Monday before their draw with GRA. Former Kenya national team captain Gilly Okumu signed temporarily from Amira Sailors leads the scoring charts for Lakers with seven goals as Lynn Mumbi and captain Alice Owiti follow with six goals and five goals respectively. Lakers will rest today. Meanwhile, Western Jaguars will be seeking to bounce back to winning ways after their 0-0 draw with hosts Genetrix Hockey Club. Jaguars who began the tournament with a 9-0 win over Scorpions and a 5-0 win over Kampala will be chasing leaders and defending champions Sharkia from Egypt who lead the log with nine points after their three wins in a row. The Kakamega County-based outfit will play Parachute Battalion from 2pm Kenyan time on Wednesday. Source: standardmedia.co.ke | November 21, 2023