Nairobi Simba fail to roar

Nairobi Simba’s Castro Kaluna (left) goes past Sharkia’s Abdelaziz Hassan during the Africa Hockey Club Championships quarter-final match at Lugogo Stadium, Kampala, Uganda, yesterday.

By ELIZABETH MBURUGU

KAMPALA: Africa Hockey Club Championships men’s defending champions Sharkia of Egypt inched closer to retaining their title.

The continental kings bundled Kenya Hockey Union men’s Premier League champions Nairobi Simba out of the continental event with a 3-2 victory in Kampala, Uganda, yesterday.

After the loss, Simba forward Davis Wanangwe said: “We played well but luck was not on our side.”

Simba, who came into the game full of confidence, allowed the Egyptians in their territory only for Elshafei Mohamed to punish the Kenyans in the ninth minute, sending the ball past goalkeeper Ajay Dosaji.

Determined to make amends for their mistakes,  Simba pilled up pressure on the Pharaohs and their efforts paid off in the 31st minute when forward George Mutira dispossessed Fathi Mohamed at the edge of the circle to set up Kalsi Jaspreet who made it 1-1.

In the second half, Sameer Mohamed converted a penalty corner in the 44th minute to put the Egyptians two up only for Simba to level the scores in the 57th minute through a Davis Wanangwe field goal.

surged on

But the Pharaohs were at it again, scoring in the 67th minute to end Simba’s journey to glory.

In another encounter, Egypt Police arrested and Trustees of Ghana. The Ghanaians lost 2-0, suffering their first defeat of the tournament. Police scored two minutes into play as Mohamed Khill beat the entire Trustees defence to slot in an early goal.

have an upper hand

Khill was at it again in the 45th minute, scoring their second goal after getting a pass from their captain Ebdelaal Ahmed.

Trustees are currently tied on six points with Kenya Police from three matches. The two were scheduled to battle it out yesterday evening to decide who proceeds to the semis.

Police have an upper hand, considering that they have a better goal difference and even a draw will see them through to the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, bitter rivals Orange Telkom and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) queens renew their rivalry today in the semi-final of the Africa Hockey Club Championships at Lugogo Stadium, Kampala.

GRA, popularly known as Custom Ladies, will be out to avenge their 2-4 loss to Orange in the 2012 finals in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

In the second women’s semi-final match of the day, Strathmore University will meet Uganda’s Weatherheads.

Strathmore queens better known, as Scorpions, will be  on a stinging mission as they are yet to lose a match. 

Telkom head coach Jos Openda told FeverPitch Ghanaians are tough title contenders and winning against them requires his charges to fight hard.  –––[e-mail].