Hockey News of Friday, 23 October 2015

Source: sportscrusader.com

Amoo-Gotfried off to Johanessburg to join hockey team

File Photo:Hockey sticks File Photo:Hockey sticks

Vice president of Ghana Hockey Federation (GHF),James Amoo-Gotfried is expected to leave the country tonight for Johannesburg, South Africa, to join team Ghana as they seek qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

His arrival is expected to boost morale in the Ghanaian camp ahead of the tournament which begins this afternoon.

Mr. Amoo-Gotfried believes Ghana has what it takes to make it to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and they would stop at nothing to make sure they achieve that feat at the end of the tournament.

Although the team has been battling with monetary issues, the Ghana Hockey Federation has managed to water down the issue of bonus for the team, tasking them to go all out and qualify for the Games, after which all other issues will be looked at.

Both Ghana’s male and female hockey teams the Black Sticks are in contention for a slot at the next Olympic Games as they come up against the best on the continent.

Ghana’s female team which is ranked 31st by the Federation of International Hockey (FIH,) will come up against six of the continent’s best hockey nations for a slot at next year’s Olympic Games.

The Black Sticks, drawn in pool A will open their tournament this afternoon against Nigeria before playing Namibia tomorrow, before playing Zimbabwe and Tanzania on Monday and Tuesday respectively.

They will square up against Kenya on October 30th before playing FIH 11th ranked nation, South Africa who are hosting the tournament.

The male team will come up against Nambia in their opening game tomorrow afternoon before coming up against the host South Africa on Tuesday.

Ghana will honour its final pool A game against Zimbabwe on Thursday October 29th.