Defending women’s champions, Blazers, formerly Telkom Kenya, have withdrawn from Africa Hockey Club Championships slated for December 1st to 10th in Ismailia, Egypt.
The East African side, who have now won the continental event 10 times, have been forced to withdraw from the competition due to financial constraints.
In a statement, the club coach Jos Openda explained the situation saying that it came out after their main sponsors- telecommunication company Telkom cancelled its partnership at the end of July this year.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had to pull out of the African Club Championship because of financial constraints we are facing since Telekom ended sponsorship deal,” said Openda.
“Of course we have qualified for the next year’s continental competition but now we have to focus on preparing ourselves for the next season’s Premier League and rebranding as Blazers Hockey Club.”
Blazers recaptured the women’s title when they beat champions Ghana Revenue Authority 2-0 in Abuja, Nigeria December last year.
Earlier this month, three other Kenyan clubs Butali Sugar Warriors, Kenya Police and Strathmore Scorpions withdrew from the African tournament citing financial difficulties.
2019 Africa Club Championship participating women clubs
El Sharkia (Egypt)
El Shams (Egypt)
Ghana Revenue Authority (Ghana)
Ghana Police Service (Ghana)
Kada Stars (Nigeria)
Yobe Desert Queens (Nigeria)
El Fashir (Sudan)
