Exchequers and CEPS in Fierce Clash for Title

IPMC Hockey League:

The first year of the Greater Accra Hockey Association IPMC League will go down in history as a fiercely contested competition in which the men’s champion was determined on the final day. Incidentally, the women’s competition was also determined on the final day of competition with only the senior league being won well in advance by a well organized Multistix Hockey Club.

In the ladies competition (the L-League), CEPS showed what incentives and motivation from management of any institution could do to the spirit and character of a team when they rose above all challenges to end the season on the high and without a single defeat. In the process, they pushed their more fancied opponents and arguably the most decorated ladies hockey club in Ghana, Extinguishers of Ghana National Fire Service off the top perch in Ghana hockey. CEPS will be crowned champions and are likely to sweep most of the awards that will be given away on Saturday December 5. Additionally, they will be proposed to the Ghana Hockey Association by the Greater Accra Hockey Association as the club to represent Ghana in the prestigious Africa Hockey Federation’s Africa Cup for Club Champions Competition most likely to be held in Abuja, Nigeria later in 2008.

Multistix were no match for the rest of the field in the S-League winning eight of eleven matches, drawing twice and losing only to a very determined Veterans whom they under-rated. Indeed, Multistix scored a whooping 47 and conceded 17 during the competition and ensured the championship was wrapped-up way before the curtains were drawn.

Perhaps the most intriguing of the year of sweet hockey will unfold at 08:00hrs on Saturday December 5 when CEPS men come face-to-face with Exchequers of Bank of Ghana in a dwell which will determine who is crowned champion in the A-League. Both teams have enjoyed a lot of support from their institutions and the incentive and motivation received from management has transformed otherwise ordinary players into more focused and success hungry individuals. As the two clubs battle for honours, their institutions should be seen as the ultimate winners due to their unflinching support for the development of their clubs. For CEPS, a win means the championship and a double dose of a good thing because then, they repeat the success of the SESSA Games when both men and women won Gold medals. A win or draw for Exchequers will hand them their 14th Championship crown after their dominance was broken some 5 years ago. The re-emergence of Exchequers have been quite dramatic and this trend has been attributed to the increased involvement of the management of the Central Bank in re-building the club through a coordinated recruitment process and the provision of incentive to the playing body and coaching staff. In an interaction with the Team Manager of Exchequers Mr. Kester Ajao, he gave a lot of credit to people in management whom he described as having the sport at heart and willing to support its development.

Meanwhile, GAHA has announced that apart from the championship trophies that will be handed out on Saturday, various awards will be presented to deserving winners in the three categories. These will include the top scoring club, top scorer, best defender, best umpire, best attacker and the overall best player. The Chairman of GAHA indicated that the Association has put in place a team of coaches and technical officials just like the GHA does annually to determine the country’s best players to come out with deserving winners.