African Hockey Cup for Club Champions postponed

ABUJA, April 8 -- Uncertainty looms over Nigeria's hosting of the African Hockey Cup for Club Champions (ACCC) set to open on April 23 due to non-release of funds by the Nigerian federal government.

The Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF) was still awaiting release of about five million naira (about 37,000 US dollars) approved for the competition, an NHF official said Thursday in the capital Abuja on condition of anonymity.


However, Nigeria's Sports Minister Musa Mohammed told reportersat a press conference same day in Abuja that the delay was due to a late submission of financial request by the NHF.


"We have approved some amount for them, but even the NHF is notserious, because some of the countries that are supposed to participate have not shown enough interest," he said.


"You can't come up with a program and suddenly expect the ministry to give you money. It's never done because we operate on budgets," he added.


The minister explained that the ministry's procedure required sports associations to submit budgets of their programs ahead of the slated period.

He, however, called on all associations to comply with the procedure and, in addition, to always seek alternative sources of sponsorship of their programs, particularly in the private sector.


According to the NHF, five countries -- South Africa, Egypt, Malawi, Algeria and Ghana -- have confirmed their participation inthe tournament which will feature 15 teams in both male and femalecategories.


Nigeria, which participated in the last three editions of the tournament, will send four teams, two male and female teams apiece.


Egypt is the defending champion of the tournament.