Match Day 3 of the 2018 Hockey Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament in the men’s group continued with big games involving Trustees, who lost their third game while GRA also picked up all three points to keep them in the competition.
It was fast and furious between the defending champions, Eastern Company of Egypt, and Trustees of Ghana.
Eastern Company defeated Trustees by a lone goal, which came through the stick of Ibrahim Amir. Though Trustees piled pressure, it was not good enough to earn them a point.
Trustees coach Ebo Arthur admitted it was a tough game.
“The match was very competitive, only that our boys were not able to take their chances due to some inexperienced attackers we had.
“But on a whole, our tactics and our formation worked for us, the goals came but quite unfortunate we couldn’t utilise them.”
Trustees have now lost two games in a row in a tournament they were confident of winning ahead of kick-off.
Vice Captain for Eastern Company El-Hady Amir admitted that there is a lot of pressure on them to retain the trophy after 2 wins and 1 draw in 3 matches.
“Yes, there is pressure because to become a champion is easy but to keep the champion is harder” said El-hady Amir
“This tournament is very hard, very strong more than the last one in Kenya but we will work hard and try hard to keep our Champions,” he noted.
In other games, GRA Ladies continue their dominance by defeating YOBE Dessert Queens 8-0 with Ghana Police also announcing their presence by thumping Strathmore 4-1.
KADA Queens lost to TELKOM whiles Police Machines of Nigeria still remain winless in three games played.
GRA men won narrowly with a late finish by Nick Hanson in the 58th minute of the 3rd quarter of their game against Nigeria’s Flickers.
El Sharkia leads the men’s category with 9 points while GRA ladies top the women’s category with 9 points and 3 points ahead of their compatriot Ghana Police.