Mr Joe Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports said on Thursday that hockey has a pedigree in Ghana that could bring greater glory "than some of the bigger sports" if the game would be adequately supported.

Speaking at the launching of the 14th Africa Cup for Club Champions Hockey Competition, Mr Aggrey said the competition would be a great occasion for Ghanaians and urged those involved in its organisation to make the most of the opportunity and make Ghana a proud host.

While pledging the ministry's support for the organisers, the Deputy Minister commended the Ghana Hockey Association (GHA) for sourcing their own funds for most of their programme and tasked other sporting associations to emulate them. He thanked corporate bodies and organisations, which have supported the GHA and challenged companies which have the capability to assist in sports development to do so without any hesitation.

Mr Aggrey said he was optimistic that Ghanaian teams in the competition would do well enough to win at least a gold medal. The Deputy minister assured participating teams of a joyful stay in the country and asked Ghanaians to display the usual Ghanaian hospitality towards the guests.

Elaborating on preparations for the tournament Nii Koi Dzane, chairman of the GHA who doubles as chairman of the Organising Committee said the competition, which would start on April 23 and end on the April 30 would involve male and female teams from 10 countries including Ghana. He said Ghana and Nigeria would field four teams each, two male and two female, as representatives of the sub region, while the other countries would be limited to a maximum of two teams.

Other countries, which have confirmed their participation are Namibia, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Seychelles. Nii Dzane said Ghana would be represented by the Exchequers of the Bank of Ghana and Trustees of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust in the male category while Reformers of Prisons and the Fire Service would step in for the women.

The function was chaired by Dr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council. Other dignitaries present included Mr Joseph B. Alhassan, Director of Budget and Finance, Bank of Ghana, Mr Joachim Bebli,

Director of Prisons and Mr Valis Achianu, a former Director of the Ghana Fire Service who donated one million cedis to the GHA on behalf of retired fire officers.