Ghana Hockey Gets Coaching Boost

The Ghana Hockey Association (GHA) has benefited from a novelty programme put in place by World Hockey to support the preparations of countries with the potential to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The programme which involves the attachment of an FIH accredited coach to the technical handlers of the selected countries would be jointly funded by the World body and the recipient country.

After an initial hitch, Ghana?s programme took off on Friday January 12, 2007 with a session with the coach, Mr. Reinoud Wolff who arrived in the country on Thursday evening. Mr Wolff who is a Dutch citizen will be in the country till January 18th and will work with a core of the men?s team and their technical handlers who are currently camped in Accra. The GHA has arranged for the coaches of the female national team and other coaches to join the sessions to exchange ideas.

An arrangement has also been put in place for the women?s team to be supported by an ex-Dutch international and a Netherlands Hockey Board recognised coach who is currently in the country on assignment with her spouse.

In a related development, coach Edmund Zankoh has been appointed by the GHA to assist coach Yiadom Boakye in handling of the men?s team due to the indisposition of head coach Winfred Sackey.