Double triumph for GRA - Sapholda, Ambassadors claim titles

Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) enjoyed double victory, while Sapholda and Real Ambassadors revelled as winners of their respective divisions of the Sapholda Hockey League which climaxed at the Theodosia Okoh National Hockey Stadium in Accra last Saturday.

While GRA defeated arch-rivals Trustees 2-1 to win the Men’s League title with 30 points, four more than second-placed Trustees, the GRA ladies overpowered Reformers 4-0 to win the Women’s League title with 27 points to confirm a dominant performance this season.

In the Masters League, Sapholda put up a masterful display to defeat NDK Financiers 5-3 to claim the winner’s trophy. But there was an anti-climax to Ambassadors’ triumph in the Youth League after losing 1-2 to Tema Manhean but still finished the competition with 17 points, just one point ahead of their Tema rivals.

The GRA ladies’ triumph was a reward for their superior attacking prowess after finishing the competition with the same points as Police Ladies but won the title on superior goal difference -- GRA scored 60 goals with only two conceded whereas Police scored 43 goals and conceded three.

In their coronation game last Saturday, the GRA men dominated Trustees with Moses Isaac opening scoring in the 14th minute. The newly-crowned champions continued to probe for more goals and were rewarded in the 40th minute when Michael Akuamoah Boateng scored a superb goal to give them a healthy lead until Trustees redeemed a goal through their skipper, Johnny Botsio, in the 55th minute.

For the GRA ladies, it was a fitting climax as they tore Reformers apart in a four-goal thriller with goals by Elizabeth Opoku (7th, 53rd minutes) Deborah Whyte (56th) and Philipa Seddoh (58th) who ensured they deservingly earned the bragging rights in the highly competitive league .

In the Masters category, Sapholda had it tough against NDK Financiers but managed a 5-3 victory to win the magnificent trophy.