Superb Strath thrash Sharkia

Strathmore Scorpions continued Kenya’s fine start at the Africa Cup of Club Championship in Bulawayo after a convincing 5-0 win over Egyptian outfit Sharkia at the Khumalo Stadium Sunday.

Gilly Okumu and Carol Njoki ensured last year’s silver medalists got their campaign off with a victory as they each bagged braces with Pauline Amutebi also scoring.

Scorpions withered an early storm from their opponents before settling down in the match.

Truphy Oriwa had to be alert early on as Sharkia piled the pressure with a series of penalty corners but Oriwa saved brilliantly to keep her team in the match as the Egyptians threatened to run away with the game.

The Kenyan girls eventually survived the early onslaught and started threatening, taking the game to their opponents.

They created their first chance in the 37t minute when Gilly Okumu found space in the Sharkia defence but was let down by a poor finish.

Two minutes later they went ahead through a penalty corner that was finished off brilliantly by Gilly Okumu for her first goal at the championships. Carolyn Njoki made it two a minute later as her  ferocious shot found its way into the Sharkia board.

Scorpions continued to attack in the second half buoyed by the lead pinning back their opponents who appeared stunned after falling behind.

Njoki added her second  10 minutes from time after sounding the board following a penalty corner from Laura Gichau to ensure a Kenyan domination over Egyptian sides. Okumu and Amutebi added further goals late on to confirm victory.

ORANGE CRUSHED SHAMS

On Saturday, defending champions Orange thrashed Shams 7-0 in their Pool A match to take an early advantage of the group. Orange will take to the pitch at 5pm this evening in their second game against hosts Bulawayo Athletics Club (BAC) while Strathmore’s next match is against Genetrix of Malawi Tuesday.

Nigeria’s Heartlands continued their fine form in the event after thrashing Shams from Egypt 12-0 to inch closer to a semifinal berth. Shams who lost 7-0 to defending champions Telkom Orange on Saturday face a huge task of reaching the last four after suffering two heavy defeats.

In another match Sharkia men’s hockey club from Egypt were 8 -0 winners over home side Eradicators in one sided match.

In Nairobi, Nakuru Sikh Union yesterday beat Bay Club 2-1 at the City Park Stadium in a Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) seeding match to determine the 13th and 14th place finishers in the league.