Story by, Paul Mensah Nsor
Accra, Ghana - The Ghana Men's Hockey Team is gearing up for the African Hockey tournament, with Coach Emmanuel Ahadjie expressing confidence in his team's ability to win. In an exclusive interview, Coach Ahadjie revealed that the team has been preparing well, starting training two months ago during the league season and intensifying their preparations with residential camping after the league.
Coach Ahadjie acknowledged that the competition will be fierce, with top teams like South Africa and Egypt having a significant advantage. "They started training towards this tournament two years ago, but we are going to try our best," he said. Despite the challenge, Coach Ahadjie is optimistic about his team's chances, citing their good performance in previous matches.
Coach Ahadjie also highlighted the challenges faced by hockey players in Ghana, including the high cost of equipment and lack of support from sponsors. "Hockey is expensive, it's not for ordinary people," he said. "The price of the stick is expensive, and it's a challenge for many young players to afford the equipment."
Despite these challenges, Coach Ahadjie is determined to lead his team to victory. "We are targeting to win 4 out of 5 matches, so that we can reach the final stage of the competition," he said. The team will play at least 5 matches, and Coach Ahadjie is confident that they have the skills and determination to succeed.
However, Coach Ahadjie expressed disappointment at the lack of support from government officials, including the Sports Minister. "Since we started training, none of the ministers has shown up to visit the team," he said. "The players need motivation, but they don't support."
Despite these challenges, Coach Ahadjie remains confident that his team will make Ghana proud. With their determination and hard work, they are sure to put up a good fight in the tournament.