Simba squander eleven penalties to fall to Sharkia

It was same old script as dominant Kisumu Simba squandered 11 penalty corners before going down 0-3 to Sharkia from Egypt and missing out on the Africa Cup Clubs Championships final at City Park.

The men’s final will be an all-Egyptian affair as their national champions, Eastern, seek to end continental champions Sharkia’s reign.

Earlier Friday, Eastern had booked a finals berth when they eased past Yobe Desert Rollers from Nigeria 2-0.

Sharkia had only three short corners in the first half and they showed power and skill to utilise them effectively, scoring two goals through Sameer Mohammed and deputy skipper Metwalli Amrou in the 17th and 26th minutes.

The champions easily warded off Kisumu Simba and made only one break in the second half for Gobran Hossam to notch home the winner in the 66th minute.

Other Kenyan representatives, Green Sharks, outclassed a much-improved Moshi Khalsa from Tanzania 3-0 in a match that had no bearing on the final standing. Sharks scored all from field goals through Geoffrey Nyangaga (third), Tonny Nyukuri (6th) and Dixon Aloo (12th).

Kisumu Simba now face Yobe in a battle for bronze today while Green Sharks take on Moshi in the fifth and sixth place play-offs.

The victory by Sharkia placed them at the top of the six-team table courtesy of a superior goals aggregate after they tied with Eastern on 13 points each. They have won four matches and drawn once apiece.

Kisumu wound third with nine points from three wins and two losses while Yobe settled fourth with three losses, a win and a draw. Yobe managed to stay ahead of Sharks on better aggregate. Winless Moshi tailed without a point.

Full time training

But Kenya should seek solace in their women clubs: Telkom Orange, who are eyeing their fifth continental title and newcomers Sliders, who face off in tomorrow’s final. Defending champions Imo Heartland from Nigeria beat Weatherhead from Uganda.

“Nowadays, goals are not decided on field play but penalty corners,” mourned Kisumu Simba’s coach Parminder “Kake” Saini.

“We had three penalty corners in the first half and eight in the second half and we could not utilise them."

Saini noted that Sharkia had three the whole session and used two to score. “The second half was one-way traffic in our favour but we failed to cash in on our chances as they broke only once to score.” Saini said.

Saini said all Kenyan teams need full time training in penalty corners or else the country is headed nowhere in hockey.