Hockey: Orange face Strathmore in club contest final today, Police fall to Sharkia

By ELIZABETH MBURUGU in KAMPALA

It will be an all-Kenyan affair in the women’s finals today at the Africa Hockey championships as defending champions Orange Telkom contend with Strathmore University for bragging rights.

Strathmore queens known as Scorpions stung hosts Weatherheads of Uganda 2-0 in their semifinal match to on Friday book a date with Orange.

Strathmore determined to make it to the finals fought hard to earn the ticket with their first goal coming in the 31st minute. Vyonne Wanjiku did what she knows how to do best scoring a fantastic field goal after running rings in the circle.

Ugandan girls knowing what was at stake, put up a hard fight attacking and but failed to break the Strathmore defence. Wanjiku was at it again in the 46th minute beating the Ugandan defence and sending the ball past Weatherheads goalkeeper.

Strathmore head coach Meshack Senge told FeverPitch that they will put up a hard fight to win their maiden continental trophy.

“We came here to play and win, we have played well and we are a match away from the trophy,’ he said. “My girls are not intimidated by the five time champions, we will give them a run for their money,” he added.

Orange queens are seeking to win their sixth title in the finals.

Meanwhile, Kenya Police men fought hard to go down 3-2 to defending champions Sharkia of Egypt in the semi-finals of the ongoing club championships at Lugogo Stadium, yesterday.

Third appearance

Police making their third appearance in the continental showpiece came from behind to a 2-2 draw in regular time.

Police coach Kenneth Kaunda said the team played well and deserved a win but poor officiating denied them victory. “We played well but umpires made decisions giving our opponents an upper hand,” he said. “He gave penalty corners that were uncalled for.”

 All goals were scored from penalty corners. The Pharaohs went up in the 22nd minute with Mohamed Sameer converting a penalty corner.

Moses Cheplaiti replied in the 42nd minute converting a penalty corner brilliantly taken by Oliver Echenje. Five minutes later Sameer was at it again putting Sharkia two up through a penalty corner. Cheplaiti once again saved the law enforcers leveling the score in the 65th minute.

The Egyptians scored in the 77th minute of extra time to snatch victory sailing through to the final. They will meet the winner of the Egypt Police and Golden Sticks of Ghana in the finals.

Police will battle it out with the loser for the bronze medal.

    ––emburugu@standardmedia.co.ke