Butali surrender lead to share spoils with Ghana's Exchequers

Kenya Hockey Union men’s Premier League champions Butali Sugar surrendered a two-goals lead as they battled to a 2-2 draw against Ghana’s Exchequer in a tense match played at the Sikh Union, Nairobi on Tuesday.

Moses Ademba scored a beautiful field goal with only three minutes on the clock to give the homeboys the lead before George Mutira extended the lead ten minutes later through a penalty stroke. 

But the Ghanaian’s gathered themselves and their continued pressure finally paid off when Daniel Bempah reduced the deficit just before the breather. 

Butali were tactically frail in the first two quarters of the second half allowing the visitors a comeback. The Exchequers  were dully rewarded through a penalty scored by John Botso to dra w level and deny the home side maximum reap. 

Exchequer captain Elikem Akaba could have extended the Ghanaian lead few seconds to the end of second half but he shot wide with the goal at his mercy. 

Butali upped their game in the closing stages of the match but the Exchequers showed no sign of slowing down, holding onto a famous 2-2 draw at the hot Sikh Club. 

Butali Team Manager Kamal Sembi rued missed opportunities saying it was a game they would have won easily, “We outplayed them but at the end of the day, goals and points is what counts. Unfortunately we share points. We have no choice but to turn up when we play Weatherheads who have made remarkable improvement ,” said Kamal.

Exchequer coach Richmond Attipoe was happy with the results. “We have happy with a draw since we gave a good account of ourselves. We come against Zamalek on Wednesday and it willl go down to who has done his homework well. Tough match yes but we are not afraid of them,” said a confident Atiipoe.

Butali will play Weatherheads of Uganda on Wednesday , while Exchequer take on Zamalek of Egypt.

In another match also played on Tuesday evening, Kenya's Western jaguars were 2-0 winners over Ugandan side Weatherheads.