Kisumu Lakers hold defending champions GRA to maintain top spot in Malawi

Lakers Hockey Club's Stacey Chentry (center) in action against Ghana Revenue Authority.[Hockey Association of Malawi,ACCC]

Lakers Hockey Club on Tuesday maintained their unbeaten run at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup for Club Champions Tournament (ACCC) after playing out to a 2-2 draw against Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in in Blantyre, Malawi.

Vivian Narkuor gave GRA the lead in the fifth minute of the match as coach Osei Boagye planned more tactical set plays on the touchline.

However, Lakers refused to bow down to the Ghanaians like they did last February when they lost 4-1 in Nairobi.

Kenyan international Aurelia Opondo leveled the scores at 1-1 after finishing off a well-orchestrated team goal in the eighth minute.

A tight second quarter match-up followed as both teams failed to score to end the match 1-1 at halftime.

In the final half, Harriette Night gave Lakers a 2-1 lead after netting in the 36th minute of the third quarter, a lead that just as the first quarter would last only three minutes.

This is after Narkuor bagged her brace and GRA’s second to tie the scores at 2-2.

Another barren fourth quarter saw Lakers pick a vital point and maintain their unbeaten run in Malawi.

After four matches, Lakers lead the standings with eight points followed by Blazers and GRA both with seven points ahead of their match-up today.

Lakers started the tournament with a 12-0 win over Scorpions before drawing 0-0 with Blazers on Sunday.

A whopping 15-0 win over Capital Braves from Malawi followed on Monday before their draw with GRA.

Former Kenya national team captain Gilly Okumu signed temporarily from Amira Sailors leads the scoring charts for Lakers with seven goals as Lynn Mumbi and captain Alice Owiti follow with six goals and five goals respectively. Lakers will rest today.

Meanwhile, Western Jaguars will be seeking to bounce back to winning ways after their 0-0 draw with hosts Genetrix Hockey Club.

Jaguars who began the tournament with a 9-0 win over Scorpions and a 5-0 win over Kampala will be chasing leaders and defending champions Sharkia from Egypt who lead the log with nine points after their three wins in a row.

The Kakamega County-based outfit will play Parachute Battalion from 2pm Kenyan time on Wednesday.