GRA male, female hockey teams return with silver, bronze medals

The men’s and women’s hockey teams of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) arrived safely in Ghana yesterday after an impressive outing at the Africa Cup for Club Championship (ACCC) in Zimbabwe, returning with silver and bronze medals, respectively.

The women’s team, Royal Ladies, secured the silver medal, narrowly missing out on defending their continental title after losing to Lakers Hockey Club of Kenya in a penalty shootout in the final. The result marked the fifth silver medal for the Royal Ladies in the history of the competition.

The men’s team, meanwhile, settled for bronze after losing their semi-final encounter. They rebounded strongly to defeat Hippo Valley Hockey Club of Zimbabwe 2–1 on penalties in the third-place playoff.

Team GRA also dominated the individual awards at the championship. Captain of the women’s team, Elizabeth Opoku, emerged as the Top Scorer of the tournament, while Eugene Acheampong and Matilda Addison were adjudged Best Goalkeepers in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.

Speaking to the media upon the team’s arrival, Head Coach of the men’s team, Mr Moses Isaac, expressed gratitude to the leadership of the GRA and reflected on the team’s progress.

“We were considered underdogs, but we prepared thoroughly and had a clear plan for the tournament. Last year, we lost in the final, but this year we managed to win bronze,” he said.

Standout performer Luke Damalie, who won the Best Player award twice and scored a hat-trick during the tournament, also shared his excitement at the airport.

“It feels really good to come back home with this performance. We thank everyone who supported us and believed in us. We promised not to disappoint,” he stated.

Men’s Best Goalkeeper, Eugene Acheampong, described the tournament as both a personal and collective achievement.

“I believe I have proven my critics wrong. The competition was intense, with clubs displaying high levels of skill and technique. We are grateful for this bronze medal, and we will build on this experience to aim higher next time,” he said.

Captain of the women’s team, Elizabeth Opoku, expressed disappointment over their failure to retain the title and apologised to stakeholders.

“I want to apologise to our authorities, our leaders and our loyal supporters for not defending the title. We promise to work harder and come back stronger to reclaim the trophy,” she noted.

Women’s Best Goalkeeper, Matilda Addison, who won the award for the second time at the continental level, expressed mixed emotions, thanking her coaches and teammates for their support.

Another player, Vivian Narkuor, attributed the final defeat to missed opportunities but remained optimistic.

“We couldn’t defend our title because we failed to utilise our chances. Preparation for our next title begins now, and we are confident we will bring the trophy back next time,” she added.

BY TIMES SPORTS REPORTER