Black Sticks thrash Nigeria

Coach of the Nigeria male national hockey team, Tunde Odedokun, says losing 5-0 to Ghana in the opening match of the ongoing first Atta Mills Memorial Hockey Tournament was due to fatigue and the stress from travelling for a long distance to participate in the tourney.

The coach, who was constantly seen issuing instructions to his boys during the match, said “we just arrived from Nigeria after a two-day journey and we are stressed and that was why we lost, but you come and watch us on Saturday, we will redeem our image”. We lost today, but the most important thing was that we are here to honour the late President Atta Mills for the good job he did for Ghana hockey and Africa as well.”

Many Ghanaians witnessed the opening match, which was attended by Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, the Youth and Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah,  the AMA Chief Executive, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuye, Mr Worlanyo Agrah, the GOC President, Mr Francis Duodu, and Oko Nikoi Dzani, President of the Ghana Hockey Association.

Botsio Johnny (11 and 23 minutes), Damalie Matthew (15), Opoku Ernest (54) and Appiah Joseph (68) all scored to conclude the damage. Two of the goals were scored from penalty corners while the rest were field goals.

Ghana mounted constant pressure on their West African neighbours, reducing them to mere “errand boys” in the second half of the game.

The Ghanaian female hockey team also pipped their Greater Accra Hockey Association (GAHA) counterparts 1-0 to bring the curtains down.

GAHA men’s team will battle the Nigerians today at 5 p.m., while the Ghana-Nigeria final game will push off at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow. NDK Financiers, Veterans, Citizens, Multistix and SAPHOLDA will engage in a gala to precede the Ghana and Nigeria duel.

By Beatrice Laryea