Ghana hockey upgrades facilities for tournament

The Ghana Hockey Association (GHA) is in touch with its allies to upgrade facilities at the National Hockey Pitch in Accra to meet international standards towards the hosting of the African Clubs Hockey tournament slated for April this year.

Oko Nii-Koi Dzani, Chairman of GHA, told the GNA Sports in Accra that a consultant has been contacted to rehabilitate the changing rooms, the secretariat and other facilities at the match venue to meet standard requirement.

He said the inner perimeters have also been billed to be re-erected to prevent fans from entering the pitch. The Accra Astro turf was constructed about two years ago with funding from the GHA and the International hockey Federation.

The Chairman regretted governments’ apathetic attitude towards supporting and developing the sport. He said the association has not received a dime from the State in preparing for the tournament and urged President J.A. Kufuor and the vice-president Alhaji Aliu Mahama to intervene and help make it a success.

Zimbabwe and South Africa have withdrawn from the tournament but majority of the remaining participating countries have confirmed they would come. The Exchequers of Bank of Ghana, Trustees of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (males), Fire Services and Prisons (female) are representing Ghana.