2005 Areeba Hockey Gala

The management of TDK Financial Services Limited, an Accra-based financial institution, yesterday congratulated the playing body of the NDK Financiers on the latter's achievement in the just ended 2005 Areeba hockey gala held at the Theodosia Okoh hockey pitch.

NDK financiers became the eventual winners of the coveted trophy at stake for the seniors' division, having demonstrated excellence-striking instincts and goal-scoring prowess to brush aside the challenges of Citizens and Multistix.

They recorded an emphatic 3-0 and 3-1 over Citizens and Multistix respectively.

The financiers gave a positive signal of emerging the ultimate champions as they showed immense potential, playing the ball around with ease, forcing their opponents to chase their shadows.

At the offices of the NDK Financial Services Limited, to receive the trophy, the CEO, Mr. Okoe Nikoi Djanie said the triumph of the hockey squad at the competition had brought overwhelming joy to the NDK family, saying "judging from the performance of the players during the first game made me envisage a possible success."

He promised the players of management's support in their activities and urged them to consider the gala conquest as a turning point to win more laurels.

The skipper of the team, Fred Hesse told The Chronicle that the victory has served as a good omen to team and they would leave no stone unturned. He declared that he would rally his colleagues to action, and with the best of their ability and competence, chalk another success in the league.

In a related development, the Customs, Preventive and Excise Service (CEPS) combined power and skill to beat Marine Sticks 2-0 in the final match to lift the giant trophy in the men's category.

CEPS scored in each half through skipper Ebenezer Frimpong and Mustapha Dodzie.

CEPS however cruised to the final stage at the expense of Police and Exchequers whom they beat 3-0 and 1-0 respectively, before accounting for Marine Sticks 2-0 in the grand finale.

They were rewarded with a cash prize of ¢700,000 while the second-placed team took home ¢500,000.

In the ladies' division, Reformers of the Prison Service played a determined game to defeat their counterparts from Police 3-2 on penalties, after eight penalty kicks apiece. Results at the end of the regulation time stood at 1-1, with Police having scored first in the 3rd minute through Lydia Mensah before Felicia Mifetu equalized in the 7th minute to necessitate the penalty shoot out.

For their prize, Reformers took home a cash of ¢500,000 whilst the Police team was consoled with ¢300,000.