Karanja issues Blazers rallying call ahead of Ghana Revenue Authority test

Blazers captain Tracy Karanja in action during their Africa Cup For Club Champions match against GRA at City Park Hockey Stadium, Nairobi on February 17, 2023. The two teams face off again in Malawi. [File, Standard]

Blazers Hockey Club are confident of toppling nemesis Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) ahead of their Wednesday clash as the 2023 Africa Cup for Club Champions Tournament (ACCC) enters its penultimate stage in Blantyre, Malawi.

After three matches, both Blazers and GRA found themselves tied on seven points with three matches left in the seven-team round-robin tournament.

Blazers who have scored 27 goals in three matches are currently unbeaten and captain Tracy Karanja said they are going to put in more effort to ensure they maintain their unbeaten streak.

Speaking via a phone interview from Blantyre, Karanja said they are confident they can topple GRA despite struggling against the Ghanaian side when they last met in Nairobi last February.

"One of our goals when we landed in Malawi was to win the tournament and so far we are on track. A win today over GRA whom we know are a very good side will give us the upper hand," said Karanja who thanked the Ministry of Sports for sponsoring them in Malawi.

"Historically, we have played many times and we have won and they have won some matches but that is not our focus. We are taking one game at a time and we know we will put our best forward."

Blazers began the tournament with a 13-1 win over Genetrix before sharing the spoils in a barren draw with Lakers Hockey Club. On Monday, they hammered Scorpions 14-0.

"We wanted not to concede any goal in the tournament but we were unlucky against Genetrix. That's hockey however. We want to win it in the end. We want not only to be on the podium alone but also with our fellow Kenyan team come Sunday," concluded Karanja.

Lakers and Western Jaguars are the other Kenyan clubs in Malawi.