Lakers ready to drown Scorpions as Africa Club event starts

Sliders Judy Owino (left) and Lakers' Maurine Achieng fight for ball control during a league match at Kisumu Day High School last year. [Michael Mute, Standard]

Lakers Hockey Club from Kisumu have warned they will not be pushovers ahead of their debut in the 2023 Africa Cup for Club Championships that starts Monday, February 13, at Sikh Union and City Park grounds in Nairobi.

Backed with the 2022 Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) women's Premier League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Aurelia Opondo, Lakers have sent warning shots to Strathmore University Scorpions as they start their campaign against the local champions from 9am at City Park.

Lakers will play local rivals Strathmore and Blazers alongside Delta Queens and Kada Queens from Nigeria in a round-robin format in six-must win matches to determine this year's winner in a seven-team group that also has GRA Ladies and Army Ladies from Ghana.

Speaking ahead of their debut, Lakers top scorer in the just concluded 2022 KHU Premier League season Debra 'Debbie' Otieno said she is ready to lead her team on the front foot with goals at the continental games.

Debbie as she is commonly referred to in the hockey corridors believes teamwork, confidence, belief and commitment will help Lakers move forward and achieve greater heights.

"I feel privileged to have made my team a success. My goals played a key role in us finishing third and thereafter making it to Africa Club games. I believe that with the help of my teammates, I will fulfil my wish to play in the finals," said Debbie who scored five goals.

"I am positive and I know everything will go well, success is my portion. Lakers hockey Club is a promising team and I know with everyone's commitment we will achieve our goals."

After the opening match, it will be a battle of the 'Queens' as Delta Queens and Kada Queens face off from 11am at the same grounds before GRA Ladies and Army Ladies all from Ghana face off in the afternoon from 1pm.

Former champions Blazers will not play until tomorrow (February 14) where they will face off against Strathmore University who won the 2022 league unbeaten.

In the men's category, champions Butali Sugar Warriors will start their campaign against Western Jaguars who were handed a lifeline after Wananchi Hockey Club from Uganda pulled out.

Three clubs from Uganda namely Wananchi men and women alongside Deliverance Church Hockey Club pulled out of the games forcing the Africa Hockey Federation and Local Organising Committee to reorganise the earlier released fixtures and pooling.

One of the key changes involved doing away with the pools in the women's category and opting for a round-robin format and including Jaguars who were left out due to high turn up.

Runners-up Kenya Police face Hippo from Zimbabwe in their opener at Sikh Union from 7am as Butali face Jaguars from 11am at the same grounds.

Most Kenyan clubs have in recent times failed to compete in the event hosted away citing financial challenges.

Kenya last staged the event in 2016 at the City Park Stadium where Kenya Police finished second after losing 3-2 in the final to Eastern Company from Egypt.

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