Nsalbini: Helping Ghana qualify for Olympic, World Hockey my priority

The need to fly the flag of Ghana very high at both the Olympic Games and the World Hockey tournament before bowing out of active hockey has now become the priority of the Skipper of the national hockey team, Salya Nsalbini.

He told the Junior Graphic in an exclusive interview that having participated in many continental tournaments at both club and national levels, he had the responsibility of going the extra mile by collaborating with his colleagues in the national team to propel Ghana to participate in the Olympic and World Hockey tournaments.

 “Already, I helped Ghana move from World League Round One to Round Two. We did it in 2017. However,  I want us to better that record so it means we have to work harder than before. This is because qualifying to participate in such elite tournaments requires hard work,” Nsalbini  explained.

According to Nsalbini, South Africa and Egypt had become the bogey sides that had always denied Ghana the opportunity to play in the Olympic Games and the World Hockey tournaments, hence the need for Ghana to plot a strategy to conquer the two arch-rivals in  future continental  tournaments.

On what he planned to do after hanging his hockey stick, skipper Nsalbini said he would help the youth with potential in hockey to nurture and develop their skills for them to become future hockey stars.

 “My dream for coaching started in 2006 when I went to Belgium to be part of  their local league. While there, I was attached to their youth team so I worked hard and helped the team perform very well in the league.  

“In 2010, I also helped the Ghana youth team qualify for the Olympic Games, so my coaching career is on course. I am an FIH Level 2 holder and on course for Level 3, so as soon as I retire from active hockey, I will focus on coaching to nurture talents,” he hinted.