Ghana Hockey Set to Shine in Abuja

The Men and Women National Hockey teams of Ghana flew directly into Abuja by chartered flight together with the rest of the nation's contingent for the 8th All African Games scheduled for 4-18 October 2003.

Team morale was high and players were focused for the task ahead as they gathered at the Kotoka International Airport for the 1 hour journey to Nigeria's Political capital to face opposition from hockey powerhouses South Africa and Egypt.

Though the entire contingent went through some difficult times at the port of entry due to some organizational hitches, Team captains Gad Oblitey (men) and Grace Marmon-halm (women) were confident those problems would not stop them from performing and winning laurels for Ghana. Indeed it showed in their first day at training at the imposing Abuja Hockey Complex as they went through their drills and mastered the turf. The team spirit can best be described as very high.

The hockey competition which will be a one-pool competion (league basis) in both the men and women's categories, starts on Monday with a cracker between Nigeria and South Africa (Men) while Ghana women's team push their campaign to a start on Tuesday when they take on Namibia. The men will push-off their campaign with a fierce battle with neighbours Nigeria on Wednesday. The pre-tournament formalities will be completed on Sunday for friendly hostilities to commence on Monday.

Ghana will also be represented in the hockey category of the Games by a 6 officials appointed by the Intrernational Hockey Federation (FIH) and the African Hockey Federation (AfHF). The officials are Nii Quaye-Kumah (Technical Officer-Men), Margaret Akofio-Sowah (Technical Officer-Women), Frank Awuku (Judge-Men) Elizabeth King (Judge-Women), Agatha Hagan (Umpire-Women) and Richmond Attipoe (Umpire-Men). The fixtures for Ghana are:

Tuesday 7/10 : Ghana Vrs Namibia (women)

Wed 8/10: Ghana vrs Nigeria (Men)

Thu 9/10: Ghana vrs Nigeria (Women)

Friday 10/10: Ghana vrs Zimbabwe (Men)

Sat 11/10: Ghana vrs Zimbabwe (Women)

Sun 12/10: Ghana vrs South Africa (Men)

Mon 13/10: Ghana vrs Kenya (Women)

Tues 14/10: Ghana vrs Egypt (Men)

Wed 15/10: Ghana vrs South Africa (Women)

Thu 16/10 : Men's Play-off

Friday 17/10: Women's play-off