•    This is the sixth continental title for the team
•    Team has maintained the national league title for the last 15 years

Nairobi, December 10, 2012: National Ladies Hockey League Champions are this year’s winners of the African Cup of Club Championships title. The pan African tournament, that was held in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, from December 1 to 9, 2012, saw the country’s top ladies hockey team trounce Customs of Ghana 4-2, in post match penalties, to clinch the title they last won in 2009.  

According to the team coach, Jos Openda, the team was psychologically and physically prepared for the tournament.

“We were very dedicated to our training and the team was very ready to face off the rest of Africa,” said Openda.

Moreover, the steady and calculated inflow of new players into his squad has seen a successful transition from the old guard, as the team prepares itself for next year’s local season.

This approach was echoed by the Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer for Orange, Vincent Camadro, during a hockey kit handover ceremony before the team left for the tournament, where he commended Openda for demonstrating leadership though his futuristic approach that has seen him nurture new talent, ensuring consistency in the player pool by attracting the best talent from across the country.

“We are very proud of our team for living up to its promise of bringing the trophy back home. This is indeed testimony that our team is by far, the best in the country and now in Africa,” added Camadro.

The ladies were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow Kenyan Team, Strathmore Scorpions. They thereafter drew 1-1 against last year’s champs Heartland Queens of Nigeria before settling for a barren draw with Customs of Ghana. The team was to thrash hosts Bulawayo 4-1, before seeing off Reformers of Ghana 1-0.                    

The week-long African Cup of Club Championships at the Khumalo Hockey Stadium moves to Accra, Ghana, next year.