Hockey: GRA clash with Trustees

After winning their first game 4-3 in a nerve-breaking encounter against Nigeria’s Niger Flickers last Monday, Ghana’s representatives in the ongoing Hockey Africa Cup for Club Championships, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and their bitter rivals, Trustees are set to thrill hockey fans at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey stadium today in a local derby.

GRA who earlier last Sunday shared the points with defending champions, Eastern Company of Egypt, have four points as against seven each by Eastern Company and El Sharkia also from Egypt.

The match against Trustees, who have won only a match after defeating Nigeria’s Police Machine 3-0, has, therefore, generated keen interest among hockey fans, especially considering that both teams need the maximum points to keep them in the contest to play in the grand finale, to make the dream of ‘host and win’ a reality for Ghana’s representatives.

Speaking to the Graphic Sports, skipper Salya Nsalbini said in spite of their setback, they were more determined than ever to win the rest of their matches to realise their dream of not only playing in the finals, but also winning the trophy on home grounds for the first time.

He said they needed to defy all odds to win their match against GRA today, to urge them on to beat El Sharkia of Egypt in their last game tomorrow.

“Beating GRA today is a must. This is because it will keep our title aspirations on course, “ Skipper Nsalbini stressed.

The derby between the two Egyptian giants, El Sharkia and defending champions, Eastern Company today is also a must watch match, just as that of the Nigerian pair of Police Machine and Niger Flickers.

In the female category, local champions, GRA Ladies, who have won all their three matches will encounter defending champions, Telekom Orange of Kenya, who have also proved to keep their title, having won all three matches since the tournament started last Saturday.

So far GRA have proved to have superior firing power in the ladies division as they have scored a total of 13 goals with none against them, as against Telekom Orange who have nine goals with none against them.

In the other pairings, Police Ladies who have won two matches will meet Nigeria’s Yobe Desert Queens with Kenya’s Strathmore also meeting Yobe Desert Queens of Nigeria in a match that can go either way.