Ghanaian hockey outfit Exchequers continue with good run in Kenya

Visiting Ghanaian hockey side Exchequers continued with their impressive show on Kenyan soil after leaving it late to beat a stubborn USIU-A Mashujaa 2-1 at the Sikh Union Stadium on Sunday.

Exchequers who are on invitation to the Gold Cup began their quest to clinch the title with a 4-1 win over the 2017 Kenyan champions Kenya Police on Saturday at the same venue.

However, the visitors who had an easy time in serving Police hockey lessons had to break sweat to edge the students as they found the breakthrough in the final minutes of the last quarter.

Exchequers threw everything on the Mashujaa goal in the last quarter forcing them to errors that saw two of their key defenders sin binned for five minutes, with their absence leading to the two goals.

Skipper Akaba Elikem found the breakthrough in the 54th minute, sending the ball past the line from the spot. Two minutes later, Francis Tettey put off Mashujaa's hopes of a comeback after plundering home the ball from a short corner.

Exchequers head coach Richmond Attipo praised Mashujaa who were 1-0 victorious in day one over Gladiators for their resilience and making them to think outside the box.

"They forced us to wait for our moment and think more on how to break their defence. We knew we would score from the chances created but their defence was superb,"he said.

His opposite number John Kabuu was also impressed with the fighting spirit of his charges but noted that they had run out of gas by the time they cracked.

"The best team won but I must commend my players for they gave them a run for their money. We had a good number of short corners but did not get it right in the conversion, " he said.

" The tournament gives our players international experience especially for those who have never featured for the national team, " he remarked.

Mashujaa will face Police on Monday while Exchequers have a date with Strathmore University Gladiators on Monday.