Serial winners Telkom out to defend title in Accra

Continental hockey giants Telkom Kenya will have the bullseye on their backs yet again as the Africa Cup for Club Champions kicks off on Saturday at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium in Accra, Ghana.

A total of 12 clubs from top leagues have converged at the West African State for the annual showpiece where Kenyan champions and nine-time winners Telkom will be seeking a record 10th continental crown.

The tournament that is made up of hockey champions (men and women) from selected African leagues as well as their runners-up will run from January 20-28 and will be played in a round robin format.

Kenya will be represented by defending champions Telkom and Strathmore University Scorpions while the men’s teams – Butali Sugar Warriors and Strathmore University Gladiators – opted out due to financial constraints.

The two teams left the country on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s opening matches where Telkom are due to launch their title defence against Yobe Desert Queens of Nigeria.

Strathmore University take on Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in their opening fixture before it is an all-Kenyan affair on Sunday.

Telkom will then tackle KADA Queens of Nigeria on Monday before facing hosts GRA on Wednesday and finally winding up their preliminary round matches against another home side, Police Club.

Strathmore University have dates with Police Club of Ghana (Monday), KADA Queens (Thursday) and Yobe Desert Queens (Friday).

Men’s defending champions Eastern Company Club of Egypt will be up against Police Machine of Nigeria as their compatriots Elsharkia who are also a force to reckon in the championships open their account with hosts GRA.

Ghana have yet to lift a single Club Champions title since its inception and will ping their hopes on last year’s finalists GRA (men) and Ghana Police (women) to end that drought on home soil.

The previous edition of the championships was held in Nairobi, Kenya in January 2017.

Saturday Fixtures

Telkom vs Yobe Desert Queens (Nigeria) 12.30pm

GRA Women (Ghana) vs Strathmore University 2.30pm