ACCC: Egypt’s Sharkia win men’s title after handing Ghana Exchequers hockey lessons

Sharkia captain Hossam Ghobran scored twice in the final Egypt’s Sharkia have claimed the Africa Cup for Club Champions men’s title after thrashing Ghana’s Exchequers 4-2 in the final held at Sikh Union on Sunday. Sharkia, who have won the top honour without tasting defeat advanced to the final after topping group B of the tournament while Exchequers, were the best team in pool A. This was the second time Exchequers lost a final at Sikh Union as the club, fell 2-1 to Kenya Police in the Gold Cup held in May last year. The hotly-contested encounter saw the Ghanaians take an early lead in the 12th minute through Botsio Johny whose conversion from a short corner sailed past the line. Sharkia regrouped quickly and would draw level three minutes as skipper Ghobran Hossam finished off a good team move. Just before the Sharkia bench could sit down after celebrating the equalizer, Abdelmoneim Hamada gave them the second goal from a short corner. Sharkia made it clear that they were in for business as the team plundered home the third goal in the 24th minute through Hossam who was on top of his game. Exchequers pulled one back through Johny but their hopes of completing a comeback were extinguished in the 47th minute as Khaul Ayman drove home the fourth goal for Sharkia. Hossam said the two-year long hiatus from the continental championships helped them prepare adequately for this year’ edition. The club has now won the continental gong for a record 26 times. “We took a break from the continentals so as to prepare. I am glad that we have won it. It was quite some task considering that we came up against the top team in Ghana. We also played six matches in seven matches,” he said. Sharkia goalkeeper Hemid Mohammed was named the best in the tournament in the men’s category with Uko Martha of Delta Queens taking home the gong in the women’s side. GRA’s Vivian Narkour bagged the golden stick curtesy of the six goals she managed. The duo of Johny and Sunday Orinya of Nigeria’s Police Machine were declared the best scorers in the men’s catgeory. The two finished with eight goals apiece.   Source: mozzartsport.co.ke | February 18, 2023

ACCC: Debutants Kisumu Lakers punch above weight to finish fourth

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