Kenyan clubs begun their 2023 Africa Cup for Club Champions Tournament (ACCC) on a high note after picking up big wins as the 10-day tournament kicked off on Saturday in Blantyre, Malawi. Despite the long travel by road from Nairobi to Malawi by Western Jaguars and Lakers Hockey Club, the two clubs showed no signs of fatigue as they blistered their opponents with ease. Ironically, the government through the Ministry of Sports opted to sponsor Blazers Hockey Club who jetted in Malawi via a flight.  Western Jaguars saw off Scorpions of Malawi 9-0 in their opening match. Emmanuel Wiswa scored five goals for Jaguars. Wiswa sounded the bar in the 11th, 13th,43rd, 56th and 57th minutes respectively while Sheldon Kimtai bagged a brace in the 55th and 59th minutes. Bethuel Masambu and Calistus Muyale sealed the win with a goal each. The men’s matches will be played in Round-Robin just as the women’s after the Africa Hockey Federation reviewed the fixtures with other teams pulling hout. After neutralising Scorpions, Jaguars will play Egypt’s Sharkia, Malawi’s Genetrix, Kampala from Uganda, Police Machine from Nigeria and Parachute Battalion. In the women’s category, it was the same story as Blazers thrashed Genetrix Hockey Club from Malawi 13-1. Kenyan internationals Eleanor Chebet and Maureen Okumu each scored a hat trick to lead the former champions to victory. Lilian Aura added a brace as Purity Odinga, Teresa Juma, Joan Anjao, Audrey Omaido and Barbra Simiyu also joined in the goal fest. Margret Munthali netted Genetrix’s consolation goal. Lakers Hockey Club on the other hand hammered Scorpions 12. Gilly Okumu and Lynn Tamunai scored four goals each as captain Alice Owiti netted a brace. Aurelia Opondo and Yvette Kanyandong sealed the win. Source: standardmedia.co.ke | November 19, 2023

After humiliating the host, Capital Braves of Malawi, 17-0 in the first match at the ongoing 2023 Africa Club Hockey Championships, Nigeria’s representative Delta Queens Hockey team, suffered a 3-4 defeat to their West African neighbour, Ghana, today. The championship began on a high note on Saturday with the Asaba-based team teaching the host country some bitter lessons of hockey, racing a 9-0 victory in the first half and adding another 8-0 scores in the second stanza. The failure of Kaduna State male and female teams to make it to Blantyre, Malawi, forced the orgarnisers to reshuffle the fixtures. The Lakers of Kenya had a 12-0 victory over the Scorpions of Malawi in the other Women’s game on Saturday, just as Blazers, also of Kenya handed a 13-1 defeat to Genetric of Malawi. The game between Nigeria and Ghana today, provided the fans the real fun of hockey, with Delta Queens falling behind 1-2 in the first half. Faith Obukowho scored for Delta Queens. But the coach Ade Jacobs-led Delta Queens Hockey team rediscovered their redeem early in the second half, with Obukowho scoring to bring the game to 2-2, with 15 minutes to play. The Ghanaians fought back and took the lead 3-2, but Delta Queens’ Benedicta Johnson struck to level at 3-3. Just when the fans had concluded that the game will end in a draw, the Ghanaians were awarded what an official of Delta Queens described as controversial penalty in the last minute. Ghana scored to win at 4-3. The defeat notwithstanding, Delta Queens is eying a podium finish in the championship, which will end on November 26. Today is rest day for the Asaba-based side. Delta Queens left Lagos for Blantyre on Wednesday with 18 players, three coaches and other team officials. Source: guardian.ng | November 19, 2023

Africa Cup for Club Champions [ACCC] 34th Men & 25th Women Editions | 18-26 November 2023 in Blantyre – Malawi 14 Participating Clubs from 6 Countries: Egypt | Kenya | Nigeria | Malawi | Ghana | Uganda MEN Sharkia – Egypt Western Jaguars – Kenya Police Machine – Nigeria Genetrix – Malawi Scorpions – Malawi Parachute Battalion – Malawi Kampala – Uganda WOMEN Lakers – Kenya Blazers – Kenya Delta Queens – Nigeria Ghana Revenue Authority GRA – Ghana Genetrix – Malawi Scorpions – Malawi 7. Capital Braves – Malawi