Ghana Hockey Awarded Prize at FIH Congress

Although Ghana was unable to send its 2-man delegation as planned to the FIH Congress in Perth, Australia early this month, the FIH awarded the Ghana Hockey Association (GHA) a prize for organizing an elaborate program during the worldwide celebration of the International Day of the Youth in October.

A release from the Brussels Headquarters of the Federation indicated that the event of the GHA was selected for the title of ?Most Out of this World Day?.

The release indicated that the jury appointed by the FIH especially appreciated the fact that the day was not only for young people, but also organized by the young leaders! The prize consists of an equipment kit with 50 sticks, balls and bibs.

The Ghanaian delegation was highly expected to attend the Perth Congress to discuss the development of the game in Ghana with the Executive of the FIH and other Federations and to officially receive the prize. Similarly, the Executive of the African Hockey Federation (AfHF) had plans that included the Ghanaian delegation in the bid to win a seat on the FIH Executive Board. AfHf had weighed its options and had presented a single candidate and enough delegates to support the quest for the position. Indications from the FIH website points to the fact that the African dream was not realized and this is definitely a huge disappointment to the candidate and to the Federation. The implications of the inability of Africa to win a place on the FIH Executive Board for the development of hockey in Africa in general and Ghana in particular could be enormous.

Although Ghana was unable to send its 2-man delegation as planned to the FIH Congress in Perth, Australia early this month, the FIH awarded the Ghana Hockey Association (GHA) a prize for organizing an elaborate program during the worldwide celebration of the International Day of the Youth in October.

A release from the Brussels Headquarters of the Federation indicated that the event of the GHA was selected for the title of ?Most Out of this World Day?.

The release indicated that the jury appointed by the FIH especially appreciated the fact that the day was not only for young people, but also organized by the young leaders! The prize consists of an equipment kit with 50 sticks, balls and bibs.

The Ghanaian delegation was highly expected to attend the Perth Congress to discuss the development of the game in Ghana with the Executive of the FIH and other Federations and to officially receive the prize. Similarly, the Executive of the African Hockey Federation (AfHF) had plans that included the Ghanaian delegation in the bid to win a seat on the FIH Executive Board. AfHf had weighed its options and had presented a single candidate and enough delegates to support the quest for the position. Indications from the FIH website points to the fact that the African dream was not realized and this is definitely a huge disappointment to the candidate and to the Federation. The implications of the inability of Africa to win a place on the FIH Executive Board for the development of hockey in Africa in general and Ghana in particular could be enormous.
Meanwhile, the FIH also awarded Ghana a 1,500 Euro grant for the procurement of hockey equipment in support of the Association?s effort to develop youth hockey. The grant together with other support package will be released to the GHA only when it has fully paid its annual affiliation fees to the FIH.