Hockey: Orange Telkom began their title retention on a high note

By ELIZABETH MBURUGU

Brian Saina controls the ball challenged by taiwo taiwo during the africa Club Championships in Kampala. RIGHT: Caroline nguchu and uganda Winnie Nandera. [PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE]

KENYA: Africa hockey women’s defending champions Orange Telkom began their title retention campaign on a winning note as they thumped home team Weatherheads 6-0 at the Lugogo National Hockey Stadium in Kampala Uganda yesterday.

Kenya’s other team Police beat Union Bank of Nigeria 2-0 in the tournament opener.

Orange dominated the entire match but failed to score more goals. Orange coach Jos Openda said they won the match but it was not a convincing.

“We won the match but we failed in goal scoring, we wasted many chances which would have seen us score more goals,” he said.

Looking forward to their second match he said Orange will work on polishing their goal scoring skills.

“We are the champs and to retain the title we have to play like champions. We will work on our goal scoring skills so we can have better results,” he added.

The Kenyan girls went into the match buzzing with confidence and announced their intention just four minutes into the game as Audrey Omaido slotted in a fantastic field goal.

Three minutes later Jacqueline Jow added a second for the champs from a Magret Rotich back pass increasing their chances of sealing the victory. The Ugandan girls composed themselves coming back into the game and containing the Kenyans.

Orange got a short corner in the 25th minute and Jow could not miss the opportunity of adding a second on her tally as she tactically converted.

Judith Apiyo made sure her name was on the score sheet sending the ball home in the 31st minute. Orange earned a penalty corner in the 35th minute and Captain Betsy Ommala made it 5-0 before the breather. Weatherheads came back into the game composed playing defensively and making sure they did not concede more goals. However, veteran player Rose Mbulo beat their defence in the 51st minute to seal the victory.

Kenya Police, who also began on a high, went matched to the field confident and  showed their lust for victory in the sixth minute as midfielder Oliver Echenje took to the left passing the ball to Samuel Wokila who scored a fantastic field goal.

 Moses Cheplaiti could have it two for the law enforcers but the ball went above the bar. However, Felix Okoth scored the winner in the 24th minute.

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