Chui off to a winning start in continental hockey tourney

The men’s national hockey team, Chui, got their campaign at the ongoing African Nations Cup Championship off to a flying start as they recorded an emphatic 1-4 victory against Namibia in their pool A match played in Accra, Ghana on Tuesday evening.

Despite having just touched down hours before the match, the team overcame the ill preparations as they recorded the morale boosting win over their counterparts courtesy of goals from Wakhura Constant, Iningu Allan, Awino Emmanuel and Onyango Festus.

In the match, Chui did not look like a side that had only arrived on the same day of the game as they made a bright start in the encounter earning three penalty corners early on. However, precision and sharpness was missing as they failed to utilize any of them.

The team had to wait and on the fourth attempt, Wakhura got the opening goal for the team to settle early nerves that might have been in the first quarter where Kenya enjoyed most possession and circle penetrations.

Namibia managed to restore parity in the second quarter through Tjikuniva Isascar who equalized with a reverse stick shot. It proved to be an action packed period as Festus Onyango was first shown a green card for dangerous play before the Namibians were also reduced to a man down. Despite both sides giving a good account of themselves with very good chances, both sides remained levelled 1-1 at half time.

After a scoreless third quarter, Chui ramped up the heat in the final quarter where they manage to surge ahead once again before sealing the 1-4 victory that sealed their spot in the semis.

In the second game that will take place today at 1900EAT, Kenya will take on a South Africa side that thrashed Namibia 13-0.

The women’s team, the Blades, will also play their first match today when they take on Zambia at 12 PM. On Tuesday, the team were left frustrated after their match against Ghana was awarded as a walkover after they arrived late to the game due to travel challenges.