Dull ending as Kenya misses Africa hockey podium finish

Kenya’s medal hunt at the hockey Africa Cup for Club Championships ended on an anticlimax on Friday as Sikh Union and Mombasa Sports Club (MSC) lost their respective third-place play-offs in Ismailia, Egypt.

Sikh Union failed to contain home boys Port Fouad despite taking an early lead to succumb to a 3-4 loss as curtains fell on the 35th edition of the men’s contest.

Debutants MSC were also unlucky losing the women’s bronze medal to Kada Queens of Nigeria to settle for fourth place. MSC had put up a spirited fight but a lapse in defence would see Queenesther Njoku score their winning goal in the dying minutes of the game from a counter attack.

Against Port Fouad, Sikh Union had a promising start with Yuvraji Walmiki putting them ahead six mix minutes into the game.

However, their celebrations were short-lived after the Egyptians responded instantly to restore parity seconds later through captain Mohammed Hussein. Hussein led from the front giving his side a 2-1 in the 13th minute with Ali El Sayed giving the home side a 3-1 advantage by the end of the first quarter.

Sikh Union tightened their defence in the third quarter even as they tried to surge forward in a bid to score goals. Nonetheless, Port Fouad defenders would not let them have their way, thwarting every effort they made to maintain their 3-1 lead at the half-time.

Determined not to go down without a proper fight, the Kenyans would return stronger in the third quarter to pull one back in the 32nd minute through a Mathias Golalire penalty corner. A successful penalty corner conversion would have Sikh Union make it 3-3 second to the end of the third quarter. The final quarter was evenly contested with both sides making attempts in a quest to take the lead.

After several failed attempts Port Fouad finally got it right as Reda Ahmed converted a penalty corner for a 4-3 lead. Port Fouad protected their lead to the final whistle to ensure that all men’s medals remained in Egypt.