Hockey national team warm-up for Africa Championship

In a bid to stay active as well as prepare for the upcoming African Hockey championships slated for South Africa between August 12 to 18 this year, the seniors and junior players of the national women hockey team will engage each other in a match at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium on Saturday.

Having participated at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast , Australia last year the team is bent on also making an appearance at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Ghana will do battle with the likes of Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt for the sole ticket to the 32nd Olympiad.

In a chat with Times Sports Mavis Boatemaa Berko, a member of the juniors team revealed that they decided to come together and play among themselves to stay active, improve upon their game and form ahead of the impending national assignments.

“The national team is expected in camp in August and if we are to sit and wait till that time to start preparations we would be found wanting in the end, hence we the juniors and seniors of the team coming up with this idea of playing among ourselves on weekly bases to stay active.”

She revealed that players called up into the national team from the year 2009 till date forms the seniors team while players who have featured for the team from 2014 till date make up the junior side.

This will be the third time they would be playing each other, with the seniors hoping to pluck victory this time round , as they have lost the previous games 5-2 and 1-0 respectively.

Featuring for the senior side will be Kandoh Linda, Azumah Bridget, Fosuaa Emelia, Adjei Benedicta, Ofori Esther, Bonah Abigail, Effah Linda Barnie, Oforiwaa A. Janet, Sasu Linda, Boakye Serwaa, Amoako Cecilia and Coffie Ernestina.

The rest are Mills Theresa, Elizabeth Opoku, Bamfo Rachael, Sarfoaa Martha, Darko Gloria and Aggrey Faustina with Joyce Amakye as coach

The juniors would have Mavis Ampem Darkoa, Gemima Gyamfi, Mavis Boatemaa Berko

Adizatu Sulemana, Maanyembim Brenya, Juwaila Acquah, Hageit Copson, Asana Gbati, Lydia Afriyie, Deborah whyte, Esther Osruagbo, Eleanor Otoo and Firdaws Addison.

Roberta Owusu Sarfo, Vivian Narkuor, Regina Mensah, Jennifer Konadu and Gifty Addai completes the squad with Ebenezer Nortey as their coach.