Hockey star Salya Nsalbini recalls his most memorable competition for Ghana
Three-time Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) award winner, Salya Nsalbini, has described Ghana’s qualification to the World Round 2 Hockey tournament in Bangladesh in 2010 as the greatest feat in his career.
While describing his maiden call-up into the national team in 2005 as an honour which left an indelible mark on his mind, he said helping Ghana to participate in the elite hockey tournament in Bangladesh was something he would forever cherish as a hockey star.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra, Nsalbini, who won his maiden SWAG Best Hockey Player award in 2005, said his passion to excel in all competitions propelled him to play above average.
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Nsalbini said: “I really do not have any special match in mind. This is because I always play with all the passion needed to propel my team to overpower our opponents. At training, I always motivate myself to excel, and that is what has helped me at both local and international levels”.
The national team skipper, who was adjudged the Best Player at the World League Round 1 Tournament in 2017, revealed that he always wept anytime he lost in competitive matches.
“Due to the in-born passion I have, I mostly weep when I lose competitive matches because I give my all in any match I play,” he explained.
Nsalbini, who also won the SWAG Best Hockey Player awards in 2010 and 2017, hinted that the only time he made a major mark in his career was when he was called into the national team for the first time in 2003.
“I am particular about my call-up into the national team because I was very young then, and playing at the international stage as a youth with the big boys was in recognition of my commitment, dedication and confidence to excel at the highest level,” he noted.
He said in spite of being called into the national team in 2003, it was two years later that he had his first cap during a tournament in Pretoria.
“It was in 2005 in Pretoria that I played my maiden game for Ghana. It was in that tournament that my talent as a hockey player manifested itself and I exhibited it to the satisfaction of the technical team and fans.
“At age 16, I had the opportunity to play with big guys who were there to guide and encourage me to excel, and during the tournament, I proved that I could play at any level with the needed guidance. I also proved that I could learn to succeed as a future star,” he recalled.
Nsalbini noted that among players he met in the national team were Isaac Ofori, Daniel Lamptey, Joseph Appiah, Alfred Armah (MC), George Oblitey, Ebenezer Frimpong and Joseph Abedu.
Touching on his achievements so far, he said: “In my career, I have won the SWAG award on three occasions which is an achievement and motivation to rise higher”.