Results from Match Day Four only reinforced the emergence of a two-horse race revolving round defending champions Sharkia and local favorites Trustees.
Egyptian giants Sharkia remain more assured of a successful title defence after a 5-1 whitewash of Niger Flickers on Sunday and have now leapfrogged Trustees to the top of the log. But the Ghanaian side is only trailing on goal difference and remains the only credible competition for Sharkia.
Penalty corner experts Mahmoud Waleed and Ahmed Metwally were again pivotal in this resounding victory, converting from four of such to grab a brace each as Sharkia dismissed Flickers who could only pull one back through the adroitness of Yohanna Faruk in the thirty-second minute.
Trustees made light work of Kenya’s Strathmore to sustain their title chase despite a sprightly second period display by the new entrants as the African Cup for Club Championship entered its fourth day on Sunday.
When the Kenyan club redeemed one of the two goals conceded in the first period in the sixty-fourth minute through Davis Wanangwe, local fans were left bracing themselves for yet another hellish battle as the local favorites had let go of a two-goal lead previously against Sharkia of Egypt. But Trustees were not done unleashing their venom on their hapless opponents.
After a series of attacks by Strathmore, Trustees turned the tables to produce their third and final goal just before the umpires could signal for the end of the match. Captain Robert Aryertey took the plaudits for putting a deft finishing touch on a spectacular team effort spearheaded by Youth Olympian Johnnie Botsio. Trustees have so far garnered ten points from three wins and a draw.
Golden Sticks made heavy weather of a good opportunity to bag the maximum points in their clash with Nigerian contenders Yobe Rollers.
Typical of their obvious lack of character, the Ghanaians threw away a first period lead after succumbing to unrelenting pressure from Yobe to settle from just a point from a possible three in the 1-1 drawn game.
The men will take a respite on day five of competition while the ladies return from a brief lull with three matches lined up as the title chase gathers steam.
Log leaders Extinguishers are expected to triumph in a tie with Yobe Queens while Reformers attempt to assert themselves in a match against Sharkia who are yet to win a match in this Championship. Defending champions Orange are losing their grip on the title after blips against Extinguishers and Yobe Queens. But against former champions Heartland who have yet to show a flicker of brilliance, the Kenyans are in good stead to excel.
Ghana Hockey has a new website which is following all of the action from the ACCC. To see it, please visit www.ghanahockey.org.
