Western Jaguars claw Africa opponents

Kenya’s teams Western Jaguars (men) and Blazers (women) yesterday produced varying results in the ongoing FIH-Africa Cup for Club Championships (ACCC) currently ongoing in Blantyre, Malawi.

During the fifth day of the ongoing action the ACCC, Ghana’s Revenue team-GRA were comfortable 4-1 winners over Blazers of Kenya. GRA were in full flight mode and began with attacking the opponents goal and in the process had corners for the take.

All their four goals came inside 44 minutes of play via field goals while Kenya’s consolation came in the 53rd minute through Captain Caroline Guchu who capitalized on some plucky defending from GRA.

GRA had Rachel Eshi Esun opening the scores in the 27th minute of play after finding space in the Blazers box to hit a low rasping drive . This goal gave the GRA side push and hunger as barely two minutes later,another deep cross found the opponents flat-footed to see dangerous Mercy Ackon just arrive at the right time and poke home a neat second.

The Revenue side buoyed by their good start started stringing good passes amongst themselves enjoying much comfort on the ball as Blazers had to regroup and cover their backline.

In the ensuing push, Blazers conceded a third in the 32nd minute via Captain and national team stalwart Elizabeth Opoku who just had quick thinking just a yard outside of the goal post to lob the ball over Cynthia Onyango in goal for the Kenyan side after evading the defenders sticks.

Some tactical changes by Coach Rose Mbulo for the Blazers in a bid to save the game seemed to yield precious little as Monica Reid Swell-Grant all but closed the match for GRA with a fourth in the 44th minute of the fourth quarter in fashionable style.The Kenyan side seemed to have been outsmarted by a well drilled GRA team who made few mistakes.

Meanwhile in the Men’s competition,Kenya’s giants Western Jaguars had a party following a 13-0 demolition over home team Parachute Battalion.This was a goal fest for the Kenyan side as Jaguars were eight goals up inside just the end of the second quarter of the one-sided encounter.

A hattrick by Captain Ivan Ludiali (2nd/46th/54th) minutes and a brace by the duo of Derrick Wakwabubi (7th &59th minutes) and Emmanuel Wiswa (25th and 30th minutes) just went to show how hungry and agile the Jaguars were.

Other scorers in the duel included; Ian Olando in the 7th minute, Oscar Kibet in the 24th minute, Richard Njuki in the 25th minute and Boris Lukorito in the 28th minute. Others were Sheldon Kimtai and Conrad Wafula also in the scoresheet.