Nii Lante Vanderpuye: We Have No Right To Deny Hockey The Support They Require

Minister of Youth and Sports, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye has said that his outfit has no right to deny Ghana the chance of hosting the 2016 Hockey World League Round 1 which comes off on September 9-11 at the Theodosia Okoh Stadium in Accra.

“We have no right to deny hockey the support they require in other to host and win tournament of this magnitude,” Mr. Vanderpuye said at a Media Launch on Wednesday, August 31.

The 2016 Hockey World League Round 1 will involve four countries; Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Namibia. However, the winner of both the male and the female category will qualify to play in the Round 2 which is slated for February 2017.

According to Mr. Vanderpuye his ministry has been able to liaise with the Indian Government to help develop hockey in Ghana.

“I have already established a relationship with the Indian Government through the Indian High Commission in Ghana for the development of a water based astro turf hockey pitches. They are ready to cooperate with us by not only building pitches, but give our coaches the opportunity to go over to India for technical courses and bringing people here to hold coaching clinics,” Mr. Vanderpuye said.

He also spoke about the phase II of the Cape Coast Sports Stadium project, which he said will have two hockey pitches and other indoor facilities.

“Under the phase II of the Cape Coast Sports Stadium project, we are suppose to have two hockey pitches and I am sure once the necessary documentation is done, we shall start. The project will have a two-hundred bed facility, two hockey pitches – one for training, and one for competitive matches, and another indoor gymnasium,” he reiterated.

According to Mr. Vanderpuye he has no doubt that Ghana will not only host, but also win the tournament. The Black Sticks are ranked second on the continent in the female category whiles their male counterpart is ranked fourth in Africa.

The Sports Minister also charged on the Ghana Hockey Association (GHA) to try and reciprocate the kind gesture of their sponsors for they will be much more motivated to come again tomorrow when they realize that their aim of sponsorship has been achieved.

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