The Chairman's Hockey Challenge Cup - It's Bankers' Final

To say that this year’s Chairman’s Invitational Hockey Challenge Cup has lived up to its billing is an understatement. Indeed, it has been excellent.

Until the final group matches in the men’s category, for instance, it was difficult for one to determine which two teams would play in the final. In fact, at a point everyone had tipped Golden Sticks, who had led the log from the start, to play CEPS in the final.

However, a last-gap resurgence by Exchequers proved everybody wrong. The young but very exciting Exchequers from the Bank of Ghana leapfrogged to top in the men’s category, and are billed to play Golden Sticks of the Ghana Commercial Bank who placed second in the final scheduled for the National Hockey Pitch on December 19.

Exchequers, who have always been a bogey side to Golden Sticks, beat the Commercial Bankers 2-0 in the final group match to top the log on 16 points, one better than their rivals.

And the December 19 clash will be a repeat of last Friday’s cracker watched by hockey big wigs, including the Chairman of the Ghana Hockey Association, Oko Nikoi Dzani, in whose honour the tournament is being played.

CEPS, who were tipped to mount a big challenge to the ultimate, fizzled out and have now consigned themselves to playing for bronze against Trustees with whom they drew 1-1 in the last group match.

Unlike the men’s, the finalists for the seniors and the ladies are still undecided. Perhaps the only side which is home and dry is Multistix who have under their belt 100 per cent record. But between Citizens and Kumasi Seniors there is plenty to play for since a slip could rob any of the two from playing in the final.

NDK, whom so much was expected of, ran out of steam and could slump further to the bottom if they do not put their house in order.

They seem to have hit a good form before the start of the competition, but surprisingly have become one of the whipping boys.

It would have been an excellent tournament for the Chairman if his team, NDK, had qualified for the final but that dream could not materialise.

The seniors and the ladies will complete their final group of matches this weekend to determine who plays who in the final. But if what has been played so far is anything to go by, then CEPS Ladies could play Extinguishers of the Ghana Fire Service in the final, while Veterans Ladies play either Real Ambassadors Ladies or Ark Ladies for bronze.

No matter the pairings for the final, this year’s tournament will go down as one of the exciting competitions organised in recent times. Share Your Thoughts on this article Name Email Location Comments Graphic Ghana may edit your comments and not all comments will be published