USIU-A target strong continental return as Hockey ACCC fixtures are unveiled
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 22.01.26. | 19:51
USIU-A have been pooled alongside Sharkia (Egypt), the defending men’s champions, Portfouad (Egypt), Kampala Hockey Club (Uganda) and School of Excellence Hockey Club (Namibia)
United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) will return to the continental stage when the 2025 Africa Cup for Club Champions (ACCC) tips off in Harare, Zimbabwe, on 24 January at St John’s College Astro Turf with the Kenyan side drawn into a demanding men’s Pool A as they seek to translate lessons from past campaigns into tangible results.
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For the Nairobi-based students, the tournament offers both redemption and opportunity after their last appearance at the 2024 ACCC in Egypt.
Team captain Jamleck Macharia says the 2024 ACCC experience has sharpened the squad’s approach heading into this year’s edition.
“We are happy that we qualified again for the ACCC. We have been practicing since last year and we learnt a lot from the 2024 ACCC we went to in Egypt, and we are ready for this challenge,” said Macharia.
"We intensified our training in January. Despite not having an astro turf in the country, we’ve been perfecting our basics and the lessons we picked from Egypt.”
Macharia added that the team is setting its sights high. “We are looking forward to a very competitive tournament and hoping to bring back good results, possibly a podium finish, which is our main goal.”
USIU-A head coach and patron John Kabuu acknowledged the constraints posed by training predominantly on murram surfaces, a stark contrast to the blue-watered astro turf awaiting them in Harare.
“The current pitch we are training on is murram, and that is a big difference compared to the playing surface at the ACCC,” said Kabuu.
“I want to appreciate Thomas Muchemi, an alumnus of the university, who gave us the opportunity to train at Kenton College. Playing on astro turf helps with fine-tuning ball touch, penalty corner execution and defending.”
Kabuu believes the exposure to an artificial surface, even in limited sessions, could prove decisive against technically superior North African opposition.
USIU-A have been pooled alongside Sharkia (Egypt), the defending men’s champions, Portfouad (Egypt), Kampala Hockey Club (Uganda) and School of Excellence Hockey Club (Namibia) - a group that guarantees no margin for error from the opening whistle.
They will open their campaign on Sunday, 25 January, against Kampala Hockey Club (Uganda) before facing Portfouad (Egypt) on Monday, 26 January.
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They will then face School of Excellence Hockey Club (Namibia) on Wednesday, 28 January, before closing their pool matches against Sharkia (Egypt) on Thursday, 29 January.
The top teams will advance to the classification and semi-final stages scheduled for the final two days of competition.
With Sharkia entering the tournament as defending champions and fellow Egyptians Portfouad also in the mix, Pool A presents USIU-A with an immediate benchmark of their continental standing.
For the Kenyan side, progression beyond the group stage would mark a significant step forward and reinforce their growing presence at Africa’s premier club competition.
USIU-A will travel with a balanced squad combining experience and youthful energy.
Goalkeepers: Samuel Silong, Leslie Lespan
Defenders: Andrew Memo, Joseph Baraka, Sylvester Wanjala, Clifford Mwaliki, Wayne Chongwong
Midfielders: Samuel Mboche, Nayombe Linton, Jamleck Macharia, Robinson Omutekete, Hillary Odhiambo
Forwards: Danstone Wabwire, Borris Lukorito, Brian Ogenche, Lawrence Makhatsa
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