Lakers Hockey Club captain Alice Owiti believes the team’s experience at the Africa Cup for Club Champions (ACCC) will significantly enhance their domestic ambitions.
Owiti said the continental tournament is not just about results but also about growth, exposure, and raising standards back home. She sees the event as an opportunity to refine the team’s approach ahead of the upcoming local season. “The experience at the Africa Club show will come in handy. We will have what it takes to win the league title in the coming season,” Owiti said.
The Lakers will open their campaign on Sunday against Kampala Hockey Club (Uganda) before taking on Portfouad (Egypt) on Monday. They will then face the School of Excellence Hockey Club from Namibia on Wednesday and close their pool matches against defending champions Sharkia (Egypt) on Thursday.
Lakers represent Kenya in the women’s competition, while United States International University-Africa (USIU-A) features in the men’s tournament. Both teams face tough fixtures from the outset, testing them against some of the continent’s most established clubs.
For the Lakers, the value of the ACCC lies in exposure to different playing styles and higher match intensity. Owiti says the experience will help the team identify areas needing improvement before returning to domestic action.
“For the Lakers, the ACCC represents more than a continental assignment. It is a learning curve, a confidence builder, and a chance to return home better equipped to compete for honours locally. I believe it will expose us to new ways of play and allow us to correct our weaknesses both individually and as a team,” she added.
The women’s competition features a single round-robin pool of four teams. Lakers will open against defending champions Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Saturday, face Hippo Hockey Club of Zimbabwe on Sunday, and close pool play against Bulawayo Hockey Club on Monday, January 26.
With only four teams involved, every match carries significant weight, and a top-two finish is required to reach the final scheduled for January 31. Off the pitch, Owiti highlighted the financial challenges faced by the self-sponsored side.
“Our major challenge is the monetary requirements, which can negatively affect our psyche. We are a self-sponsored team. We depend on gifts, donations, and contributions from well-wishers,” she said.
Despite these challenges, Owiti believes competing at the continental level is crucial for the growth of the club and women’s hockey in Kenya. “We have had a difficult time meeting the financial obligations of the competition, but overall, we are on course,” she noted.
In the men’s competition, USIU-A have been drawn in Pool A alongside Egyptian powerhouses Sharkia and Portfouad, Uganda’s Kampala Hockey Club, and Namibia’s School of Excellence. Only the top teams will progress to the knockout stage.
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