2013 Ghana Hockey In Retrospect

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Flashback: Ghana versus Germany in action at the World Cup
Flashback: Ghana versus Germany in action at the World Cup

Ghana hockey had very little to celebrate this year despite making it to the World Cup in Germany at the youth level; the first by a female national team.

The baptism of fire that the U-21 team went through was understandable, against the backdrop that the players were not exposed to the game at the highest level due to lack of funds. The team had been stuck here in Accra and proposed international friendlies were all cancelled because of the usual ?no money? syndrome.

The repercussion was dire. But in the face of all these, the ladies played their hearts out and hoisted high the flag of Ghana. Ghana was last in the 16-nation tournament in Monchengladbach, Germany but their steady progress in the tournament won by Holland, was amazing.

However, the last day of the tournament was heartbreaking. Each player was given a paltry $200 for their efforts because the Ministry of Youth and Sports again reneged on its promise to cater for them.

Officials of Ghana hockey had to struggle to raise money for air tickets, accommodation and feeding; it was indeed, a bitter experience.

The common thread that had run through this year?s hockey activities was luck of funds where the sport had virtually become an orphan and players played just for the love of mother Ghana.

From the World League Series in South Africa through to the recently-held World Cup qualifier/Nations Cup in Nairobi, Kenya, Ghana had struggled to raise funds to make appearance at each event for fear of being sanctioned.

Even in Kenya, where Ghana missed out narrowly to pick the ladies? single ticket for the World Cup in Holland next year, they never disappointed; Ghana should be preparing for the mundial in The Netherlands. After leading 2-0, the ladies were overtaken by events, losing 2-3 to South Africa in the final.

The team, however, found solace in Elizabeth Opoku?s exploits where she was adjudged the Best Player of the tournament, as well as the top scorer.

Opoku had been the livewire of all the national teams but she fumbled at the World Cup where she could hardly get her rhythm. Obviously, the World Cup experience impacted her delivery in Kenya where she won the double awards.

Local front

Back home, NDK Financiers and SAPHOLDA created a new rivalry that was unmatched by any of the junior teams, giving the Dwadifo Adanfo Hockey League a new image.

The competition was intense and attendance encouraging but SAPHOLDA?s dream of dominating the seniors? league for the next five years was cut short by NDK who won the league with ease.

Trustees of SSNIT and Golden Sticks of the Ghana Commercial Bank, as well as CEPS (GRA), and Reformers of the Ghana Prisons Service, picked tickets from the male and female divisions to represent Ghana at the next Club Championship in Uganda in January 2014.

Trustees reclaimed the league ahead of Golden Sticks while Ghana Revenue Authority (CEPS) Ladies beat Reformers to lift the ladies trophy.
La Junior won the youth league in a straight fight between them and Tema Manhean.

The winners and runners up in the A-League have stepped up their preparation for the club championship (which is in two weeks), hoping to build on the silver won by Exchequers in 1991 in Zimbabwe.

It is worth mentioning, however, that this year the local hockey league received the highest sponsorship ever.

From Bajfrieght and Logistics, Dwadifo Adanfo through to Beige Capital, the local league got the best shot in the arm.

Source Graphic Sports

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