- The Kenya Lakers Hockey Club are the new continental champions after defeating former titleholders Royal Ladies of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on penalties.
- Lakers captain Alice Awiti has appealed to well-wishers to come forward and support the team financially.
Kenya Lakers Hockey Club captain Alice Awiti has appealed to well-wishers to support the team following their historic triumph at the Africa Cup for Club Champions in Zimbabwe.
The Lakers are the new continental champions after they managed to defeat the former titleholders, Royal Ladies of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), on penalties following a 1–1 draw on Saturday.
Elizabeth Opoku had given GRA the lead before Faith Amondi sent the match into a shootout, where Lakers goalkeeper Maureen Acheing’ made four crucial saves and was named player of the final. Acheing and Debra Atieno then scored the decisive penalties to seal the victory.
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Kenya Lakers Hockey Club capture African title after years of struggle
Speaking to Nation Media after the match, Lakers captain Alice Awiti, who was also named player of the tournament, said the triumph was the result of years of hard work since the club’s founding in 2017.
“We have been vindicated, and it means everything we went through wasn’t in vain. After the challenges, the doubts and the ban, this victory proves our character and resilience as a team,” Owiti said.
True to their journey, the title did not come easily. The Kisumu based outfit have endured struggles that few could imagine.
The Lakers were driven by revenge after a painful experience in 2023, when the Africa Hockey Federation stripped them of a near-certain title.
The team was banned from the finals after being accused of fielding ineligible players.
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They were set to face the same GRA side, but the five-time champions advanced instead and eventually played Blazers in the final.
Lakers’ attempts to challenge the decision led to chaos, hefty fines, a ban, and several match officials also receiving five-year suspensions.
By 2026, circumstances had not improved in fact, they were arguably harder than in 2023. The team faced major challenges, especially regarding transport and sponsorship.
They had to undertake an arduous road journey all the way to Zimbabwe, which included bus breakdowns, and arrived in Harare just a day before the tournament began.
The Lakers started the competition on a low note, losing 2–0 to GRA in their first match.
However, they bounced back strongly, beating hosts Hippo 4–1 before edging Bulawayo 3–0 to book a place in the final.
Lakers Captain Alice Awiti appeals for support after historic Africa title
Awiti emphasized that this win is not just for the team, but also proof that Kenyan hockey can compete on the global stage.
“This victory feels incredibly special and emotional. This title means a lot, not just to the Lakers, but to Kenyan hockey too. The win also validates the hard work we have put in over the years and shows that Kenyan hockey can still compete at continental level,” she added.
Awiti explained that conquering the continent required immense sacrifice, discipline, and belief.
“Most of our players live outside Kisumu, yet they consistently sacrificed their time and comfort, and even their work commitments, to attend training, despite the long distances,” she said.
In addition, Awiti called on supporters to come forward and assist the team financially following their triumph, hoping the victory has made a statement.
We prayed intensely for this title so that we could attract well-wishers to help us financially. We hope not to make the long return trip by road again we’d like to fly back to Kenya. And once home, we hope to find sponsors for the club so we do not continue facing so many financial challenges.”
