Obama to Watch Nigeria, Ghana Opener?

United States President, Barack Obama is expected to grace the opening match of the Africa Hockey Federation AfHF Cup for Nations, which holds at the Astroturf of the Accra Stadium on Friday, 10th of July.

According to the President of the Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF), Patrick Ukah, the Ghana Local Organising Committee has invited the first black American President who is on first official visit Ghana, to be a special guest of honour at the event.

Mr Abuga Pele, Chairman of Ghana LOC, said plans are in advanced stage to ensure that the visiting American President who incidentally is expected to arrive in Ghana on July 10 adds colour to the event with his presence.

He said the committee is poised to deliver a successful tournament and appealed to corporate bodies to support the committee to attain its target.

AfHF President Ahmed, who handed over the tournament flag to the LOC, expressed delight at the level of preparations for the tourney. "We (AfHF) foresee an excellent organisation during the tournament," said the Egyptian.

This is the first time Ghana will be hosting the event since its inception in 1974. Ghana incidentally won the maiden edition.

It would be recalled that the new board of the NHF was inaugurated by the National Sports Council (NSC), last month with ex international Patrick Ukah, emerging as president. Engr Simon Nkom is 1st Vice President and Tolu Ojo is 2nd Vice president.

Others are Tunde Popoola Director of Organisation, Jude Modilim, Director of Marketing, Media and Publicity, Omiema Brown is the Director of Development, Brig Gen. Abdullah Ahmad (RTD), Director of Disciplinary and Hadiza Kurah, Secretariat Liaison. Princess Olateru Olagbegi is the Hockey Women Development Director while Taiwo Alimi, a sports writer with National LIFE Newspapers, serves as the Media Officer of NHF. International Energy Insurance (IEI) is the official partner of NHF.