GHA cry for sponsorship to host Africa Clubs tourney
Ghana Hockey Association (GHA) President, Mr Richard Akpokavie, has made a passionate appeal to the corporate bodies and individuals to assist the association to raise about GH¢300,000 needed to organise the Hockey Africa Cup for Club Championship which takes place in Accra later this month.
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He said funding had become very critical if Ghana were to host the 12-club continental competition which includes four Ghanaian teams.
“This time we are not just hosting the tournament; we are also determined to win for the first time. That is why we are appealing to institutions, corporate bodies and individuals to help us raise between GH¢250,000 and GH¢300,000 to enable us organise the tournament very well and also realise our dreams of winning the ultimate in both the male and female categories,” Mr Akpokavie told the media yesterday.
He explained that besides taking care of the airfare of the tournament directors from South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt, the host association would also bear other expenses including accommodation, internal transportation and feeding, among others.
This years’ tournament comes off at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium in Accra between January 20 and 28. It will be the fourth time the prestigious competition among Africa’s elite hockey clubs is being staged in Accra, having previously hosted it in 1995, 2002 and 2010. Ghana’s best performance happened in the 2010 tourney when Trustees won a silver medal in the men’s competition, and the Police team who also won silver in Kenya a few years ago.
Mr Akpokavie commended SSNIT, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Police Service, Bank of Ghana and NDK Financiers, among other institutions who had sponsored their respective clubs to participate in previous tournaments. He called on these institutions to consider sponsoring the Ghanaian teams at this year’s tournament.
GRA and Trustees will represent Ghana in the men’s competition which also comprise team’s such as defending champions, Eastern Company Hockey Club and El Sharkia (both from Egypt) and the Nigeria duo of Niger Flickers and Police Machine.
In the female competition, GRA (winners of the Sapholda Hockey League) and Police will fly the flag of Ghana as they vie for honours against Telkom Hockey Club of Kenya and the Nigeria duo of Strathmore Hockey Club and KADA Queens.
He hinted that the teams would start arriving in Ghana on January 17 , to acclimatize and train before the opening game pushed off on January 20.
