EXCHEQUERS of Bank of Ghana at the weekend made history in Ghana hockey by winning all their 35 matches in the season just about to end and lifting all the five trophies staked by the Greater Accra Hockey Association.
They are the GLICO gala, Ghana-Nigeria friendly international, Juvenile Day, the maiden Pepsi league and the Mobitel knock-out trophies.
The experienced and tactically-disciplined Central Bank boys made this history complete when they silenced vociferous Trustees of SSNIT 5-4 on penalties in their Mobitel knock-out final match played at the National Hockey Pitch.
With this knock-out victory, the champion of champions trophy is also to be handed over to them at a ceremonial match on Saturday to bring their total trophies haul to six.
In their final match against Trustees, Exchequers’ determination of making this history came as early as the third minute when Eddie Odametey shot his side up through a beautifully executed short corner.
Trustees were equally determined to save their image in the game of hockey after their dismal performance in the African Hockey Championship staged in Alexandria, Egypt last year which they placed fifth from seven clubs.
They accepted the challenge and pressed for the equaliser which did come in the 16th minute through Dan Dzokoto’s powerful drive just at the edge of the box from a short corner.
Tension from then on began to heighten as both sides were under pressure from their benches to win by infusing technical ideas to them but none could change the score-line to send the game straight to penalties.
Apart from William Cudjoe of Exchequers who missed his shot, Eddie Odametey, Richmond Attipoe, Alfred Armah and Alfred Bruce hit their targets.
Jonas Tetteh in post for Exchequers saved Steve Tenkorang’s kick with Ebo Arthur shooting off target while Samuel Ofosu, Dan Djokoto and Alfred Armah coolly planted their balls into the net to bring the final score to 5-4 in favour of Exchequers to lift the trophy and cash of ?500,000 and ?200,000 to Trustees.
In the ladies final match between Police and CEPS, the latter beat the inexperienced Police 1-0 to also lift the trophy to set the stage for a champion of champions match between the two teams to be played on Saturday.
However, CEPS relying on their rich experience as against their youthful but inexperienced girls, had to wait until a minute to full time to clinch victory to lift the trophy and a cash amount of ?300,000 with ?200,000 going to the Police team with all the participating teams receiving 20 T-Shirts each.
Officials of CEPS should however be reminded of recruiting youthful players to blend the ladies team if they want to maintain their image which is very high in hockey.
