The president of the Ghana Hockey Association (GHA), Mr Oko Nikoi Djanie has paid glowing tribute to departed president Prof JEA Mills saying his humility took him where he reached in life.

Mr Oko Nikoi who is known in sporting circles as a friend to the late president said his association with him taught him a lot in life.

“Even though he was older than me and taught me company law, he became my friend when he realised that we were both Achimotans and had interest in hockey,” he said.

“He was a special man; God loaned him to us, he was kind-hearted, he was disciplined, he was humble and he came down to the level of everybody who made contacts with him,” he added.

He said President Mills was instrumental in the getting the water-based hockey stadium that Ghana now boasts of.

He said Prof Mills taught them well and that led to Ghana being able beat Egypt and South Africa in the Under 21 tournament for the first time in history to represent the continent at the youth Olympic in 2010.

“We now have umpires going for international games because our games have improved since we got that stadium, all because of Prof’s vision,” he said.