Egyptian clubs firstly come for Africa's hockey championship
Egyptian clubs firstly come for Africa's hockey championship
09:05, December 10, 2009 
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Egypt's Sharkia and Eastern Club are the first two clubs to arrive in Nairobi ahead of Saturday's 21st Africa Club Cup Championship at City Park Stadium in Nairobi' s Parklands area.
The event, which is being hosted in Nairobi for the second time in as many years, has attracted 13 clubs and will feature both men and women teams.
Kenya, as host has four teams - Kisumu Simba, Green Sharks (men), Telkom Orange and Sliders (women).
Bigwigs Ghana, Senegal and Cameroon who have been consistent fixtures in the tournament will not send any team but Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) chairman Risham Bains remained adamant it will not water down the level of the tournament. All the foreign teams are expected on Thursday.
"Kenya has a great chance for our teams to dominate and win the titles. However, both Nigeria and Egypt stand out as the teams to beat in the tournament," said Bains.
Eastern Club, who dethroned Sharkia to win the Egyptian National League title last year, have vowed to Sharkia's continental dominance.
Nigeria' s Heartland is the women champions and will be arriving on Thursday with only one mission, to quell the mutiny in threatening their empire.
Sharkia will launch their title defence against Kenyan champions Kisumu Simba on Saturday. The two giants met last in 2003 and the Egyptians won 2-0. Sharkia, who have lifted the title over 10 times, claimed the 2008 crown when they outclassed fellow countrymen Police Union 5-2 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Sharkia boost of four players who have been plying their professional trade in Italy and one in England. In addition, the team has nine national team regulars including their captain and goalkeeper, Osama Hassanen.
Centre Ahmed Ezz, who was based with Haven Club of England, is expected to link up with the team before the tournament starts.
Others who have had a stint with Italian Club Butterfly Roma but are back at Sharkia are deputy skipper and swipper Amrou Mettwli, right middle Mohammed "Hamoza" Mohammed and left back Mohammed Samir. Also in the team is Mohamed Hosni, who has been playing for Bondeno Club in Italy.
Eastern have six national team players, goalkeepers Farahat Abdelrazik and Ahmed Abudif, Walid Mustafa, Mohammed Hassan, Amri Mohammed and Mahmud Mumduh.
Sharkia, Kisumu Simba, Delta Force of Nigeria and Moshi Khalsa from Tanzania are in Pool A while Green Sharks are in Pool B alongside Eastern Club, Wananchi of Uganda and Yobe Desert Rollers from Nigeria.
The women's contest has attracted five teams including defending champions, Heartland (Nigeria), Telkom Orange (Kenya), Bayelsa (Nigeria), Sliders Club (Kenya) and Wetherland (Uganda).
Source:Xinhua
The event, which is being hosted in Nairobi for the second time in as many years, has attracted 13 clubs and will feature both men and women teams.
Kenya, as host has four teams - Kisumu Simba, Green Sharks (men), Telkom Orange and Sliders (women).
Bigwigs Ghana, Senegal and Cameroon who have been consistent fixtures in the tournament will not send any team but Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) chairman Risham Bains remained adamant it will not water down the level of the tournament. All the foreign teams are expected on Thursday.
"Kenya has a great chance for our teams to dominate and win the titles. However, both Nigeria and Egypt stand out as the teams to beat in the tournament," said Bains.
Eastern Club, who dethroned Sharkia to win the Egyptian National League title last year, have vowed to Sharkia's continental dominance.
Nigeria' s Heartland is the women champions and will be arriving on Thursday with only one mission, to quell the mutiny in threatening their empire.
Sharkia will launch their title defence against Kenyan champions Kisumu Simba on Saturday. The two giants met last in 2003 and the Egyptians won 2-0. Sharkia, who have lifted the title over 10 times, claimed the 2008 crown when they outclassed fellow countrymen Police Union 5-2 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Sharkia boost of four players who have been plying their professional trade in Italy and one in England. In addition, the team has nine national team regulars including their captain and goalkeeper, Osama Hassanen.
Centre Ahmed Ezz, who was based with Haven Club of England, is expected to link up with the team before the tournament starts.
Others who have had a stint with Italian Club Butterfly Roma but are back at Sharkia are deputy skipper and swipper Amrou Mettwli, right middle Mohammed "Hamoza" Mohammed and left back Mohammed Samir. Also in the team is Mohamed Hosni, who has been playing for Bondeno Club in Italy.
Eastern have six national team players, goalkeepers Farahat Abdelrazik and Ahmed Abudif, Walid Mustafa, Mohammed Hassan, Amri Mohammed and Mahmud Mumduh.
Sharkia, Kisumu Simba, Delta Force of Nigeria and Moshi Khalsa from Tanzania are in Pool A while Green Sharks are in Pool B alongside Eastern Club, Wananchi of Uganda and Yobe Desert Rollers from Nigeria.
The women's contest has attracted five teams including defending champions, Heartland (Nigeria), Telkom Orange (Kenya), Bayelsa (Nigeria), Sliders Club (Kenya) and Wetherland (Uganda).
Source:Xinhua
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