Lizzie King, Nii Kuma elected African hockey executives

Two executives of the Ghana Hockey Association (GHA),  Madam Elizabeth Safoah King, and Nii Quaye Kuma have been elected as executives of the  Africa Hockey Federation (FIH).

While Madam King, the GHA Treasurer, was elected unopposed at a congress held in Johannesburg , South Africa as part of the FIH championship, Nii Kuma  beat two other contestants to win the position as vice president

The two, together with other executives who were elected during the congress, will hold office for four years, and have opportunity to seek a second term in office, depending on their performance.

Briefing Graphic Sports  about their international portfolio, Madam King said with their election, they now have opportunity to be part of the decision - making body about the fortunes of West Africans issues concerning the sport on the continent’

“Before then, all decisions were made by the body which comprised South Africans, most of which did not favour West Africans, but now, the situation will not be the same,” she noted.

She assured to collaborate with other elected officials in West Africa to champion the cause of the sub-region to promote the sport more meaningfully.

She said as part of the congress, a Ghanaian  umpire, Cynthia Clement,  also received her  FIH umpiring badge.

On the tournament itself, she said in spite of their failure to win the ultimate trophies, a section of players of both the men and women’s teams, returned  home with honour for their individual accomplishments .

She said beside  winning silver for placing second at the tournament, the women’s team returned home with the Best Female Player Award in their fold in the person of Nafisatu Umaru, with goalkeeper Bridget Asumah being voted the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Explaining , she said Umaru exhibited high standard performances in all the matches she played to win the nod of the technical team as the  best player of the tournament.

She said  on the part of Bridget Asumah, her prowess  in the post, especially her senses of agility, anticipation and discipline, endeared her so much to the technical team, such that ,she was easily selected as the best  among her opponents.

For scoring a total of 15 goals in the tournament, Johnny Botsio was also recognised as the second highest scorer in the men’s category.