President Mills congratulated the gallant men and women for making Ghana proud and said they had shown that when the people were given the opportunity they can rise to the very top.  The President gave the commendation when juvenile teams presented their trophies to him at a short ceremony at the Osu Castle in Accra.

President Mills said Government would together with the management of the teams work out an appropriate package for them.  He advised them to note that there was a long journey ahead of them and that it was only through discipline, humility and team play that would bring them the needed success.  President Mills condemned attempts to look down on the less fortunate in society and attempts to dislodge the game of hockey when some people wanted to put up private buildings at the hockey pitch.

He observed that Ghana sports in on the ascendancy in recent times and declared that with the progress so far achieved people would very soon come to learn hockey in Ghana.  President Mills assured the team of Government’s support for their participation in the Hockey Olympic in Singapore.

Mr Oko Nikoi Djani, President of the National Hockey Association led the victorious members of the teams to call on the President.
GNA

The Black Sticks after losing 5-1 in the finals of the tournament to their highly-rated South Africa counterparts were however determined to rewrite history by clinching the gold medal, and put up an impressive performance in the first half despite conceding two goals, in which they deserved at least deserved a goal.

The Tournament’s Top Scorer, Shelley Russell of South Africa however, ensured that she opened the scores in the 10th minute through a field goal with Vida Riyan increasing the tally in the 35th minute also through a field goal.

Despite the early upset, the Ghanaian Ladies were determined to go all out for the goal, but their dreams were put off when Russell was on target to add two more field goals in the 38th and 41st minutes of the second half.

As the Ghanaians made attempts to reduce the tally, Russell got her third field goal in the 50th minute but the introduction of Monica Sewell-Grant for the home side brought on much urgency in their game and with her efforts, the Black Sticks had a face saving field goal in the 67th minute.

 The goal gingered up the Ghanaians to probe for more goals but it was too little too late for them as the South Africans held on to the lead to ensure they grab the Gold medal with ease. 

The South Africans at the end of the tournament grabbed almost all the medals as took the ‘Most Exciting Female Team’ of the Tournament, with Russel winning the ‘Top Scorer Award.”

Merescia Marsha followed with the ‘Most Prestigious Female Player’ of the Tournament, whilst Rix Marriete was voted the ‘Best Goalkeeper’ of the Tournament in the Female category, whilst Egyptian El Sabbah Nour Mohamed picked up the ‘Most Promising Player’ of the Tournament.

The consolation for the host, Ghana was when Pamela Condobrey took home the ‘Top Defender’ of the Tournament award in the female category.

The South Africans, winners of the past four editions lived up to their pre-tournament favourites tag by beating the Egyptians for their fifth overall titles dating from 1993, 1996, 2000 and 2005.

The clash was a repeat of the final games in 2000 (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) and 2005 (Pretoria, South Africa), which saw the South Africans winning on both occasions. The encounter lived up to its billing as the ultimate game to determine the champions with the Egyptians giving the South Africans a good run for their monies worth.

Despite a 0-2 loss in the earlier meeting at the group phase, the Egyptians who are ranked the Continent’s number two stunned all with an output that exposed the South Africans for the first time and for them to concede their first goal at the Ghana 2009 tournament.

Egypt’s midfielder Ezz Ahmed was a thorn in the flesh in the South African defence with his swift turnings which brought out the best of South African defender, Thomas Hammond, who was eventually voted the ‘Best Defender’ of the tourney.

On 10 minutes, striker Gareth Carr put the South Africans in the lead with a penalty stroke that beat Egypt’s goalie Hassaneim Osama.  The Egyptians resumed strongly and were gifted with dominance in possession compelling the South Africans to often chase their shadows.

In the 55th minute, Ezz equalized with a perfect hit in the “D” on one of his raids into the South African half.
  The South Africans reorganised and this yielded results with two late goals in the 62nd minute through Mc Dade Thornton before Norris Jones Lloyd sealed victory two minutes from time.
     South Africa will thus represent Africa at the World Championship scheduled

The Ghanaians after surrendering a two-goal lead in normal time displayed a spirited performance in extra time to redeem their image to grab the bronze spot.

Appiah, one of the busiest players of the national male team on the day, hit home in the “D” from an ensuing penalty corner in stoppage time as the Black Sticks cruised to their only win at the championship.

The victory served as a sweet revenge for the Black Sticks, after they lost 1-2 to their West African counterparts in the group phase.  After a winless run during the group phase, the Black Sticks started brightly but failed to make any meaningful impact in attack despite having the better of the exchanges.

David Gagblah however put the Black Sticks in the lead on 34 minutes by pushing in from close range.  The Black Sticks doubled the lead on 41 minutes through Daniel Lamptey.

The Nigerians responded positively with Ogodogun Sunday reducing the deficit four minutes later before Adamson Edward neutralized the tally six minutes from time by connecting from a penalty corner.  Earlier, the Nigerian female team whacked Egypt 4-1 to snap up the bronze in the Women’s division.

Obiefule Oluchi scored first for the Nigerians on 14 minutes from a penalty corner before Alfa John made it two on 32 minutes.  Nnanah Stella made it three for Nigeria a minute from recess before Mohsen Asmaa reduced the deficit for the Egyptians with a stroke from the penalty spot four minutes later.

It was the first time the Egyptians Ladies had scored at the championship and they celebrated the goal in grand style before Bulus Suzan put the icing on the cake for Nigeria with the fourth goal six minutes from time.

On Saturday, South Africa will engage Ghana in the Women’s final whilst Egypt clash against the ‘mighty’ South African team in the Men’s finale.

The honour, ranked in the upper tier category by the AfHF will mark the highest point of the ceremony to celebrate African hockey as well as climax the ongoing Hockey Africa Cup for Nations, Ghana 2009.

Magnus Rex Danquah, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana 2009 Local Organising Committee (LOC) told GNA Sports that the event would also acknowledge the contributions of sponsors and partners towards the successful hosting of the tourney.

As part of the AfHF awards, Leandro Negre Carrio, President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will also receive the Meritorious Awards (Upper tier).

 The Lower tier category will have Peter Van Zyle – Tournament Director (Ghana 2009), Dennis Perkins – Umpires’ Manager and Ediga Agbo – Assistant Umpires’ Manager.

Abuga Pele – Chairman of the Ghana 2009 LOC, Oko Nikoi Dzani – Vice Chairman, Ghana 2009 LOC and Chairman, Ghana Hockey Association, Magnus Rex Danquah – Chief Executive, Ghana 2009 LOC, Bernard Mornah – Deputy CEO, Ghana 2009 LOC, Kwame Essah – General Coordinator, Worlanyo Agrah – CEO, National Sports Council, Theo Ykemah – FIH Member of Honour, Osei Bonsu Amoah – Member of Parliament of Aburi-Nsawam and former Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports and the 1974 Black Sticks squad would be decorated in the Middle tier.

For the Ghana 2009 LOC Sponsor and Volunteers Awards, Ghana Commercial Bank and Bank of Ghana will receive honours in the Platinum category. The Gold category will have Innolink Limited and Volta River Authority while MTN, Pepsi, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Customs, Excise and Preventive Services and the National Lotteries Authority in the Silver category.

Africa Online, NDK Financial Services, IPMC, Appointed Time Screen Printing, Yetron Services and GLICO Life Company will be rewarded in the Bronze category while Ernest Chemists, SSNIT, SOS Villages and Ghana Prisons Service as Donors of the competition.

 There will also be awards for the Most Dedicated LOC Secretariat Staff as well as Most Dedicated Volunteer (Male and Female).  The tourney ends on Saturday with Ghana engaging South Africa in the Female finals and South Africa clash with Egypt in the Men’s finals.

Ghana opened the scores in the 11th minute through Georgina Sam but saw their jubilation cut short with an equaliser from Nigeria’s Alfa John in the 20th minute.  The Black Sticks regained their dominance of the game and scored two more goals from short corners before the close of the half.

Both goals came from the stick of veteran Beatrice Darko as she effectively converted two penalty corners given to Ghana. The second half saw the Ghanaians sticking to their game plan and went ahead to increase the tally in the 48th minute through Rejoice Awagah. The Nigerians were also awarded a couple of penalty corners in the later stages of the game which could have made them level up the scores but all opportunities were squandered.

Ghana will now take on South Africa in the finals on Saturday with the hope of putting smiles on the faces of the supporting crowd after a disappointing performance by their male colleagues. Earlier in the day, the South African Ladies recorded the biggest win of the tournament when they chalked an 11-0 thrashing of Egypt in a one-sided encounter.

The South Africans who had already sealed their place in Saturday’s final kept their composure to thrash the youthful Egyptian side, who are yet to score at the tourney. The African champions led 6-0 at half time courtesy a brace from Cindy Brown and one each from Ryan Vida, Hubach Kim, Turner Roxanne and Madsen Kelly.

In the second half, Russell Shelley made it seven for the South Africans on 43 minutes by scooping home from a penalty corner before Vida sealed her brace two minutes later. Cass Julia scored the ninth goal on 58 minutes before Roxanne completed a hat-trick with efforts in the 60th and 69th minutes.

African champions, South Africa thrashed Nigeria 8-0 whilst Egypt and hosts Ghana settled for a one all drawn game. The results ensured that the South Africans finished as group winners on nine points, five more than second placed Egypt, Nigeria had three points with Ghana at the bottom with only a point.

 Tournament pundits had tipped South and Egypt for the final due to the performance of the two sides. The final will be a repeat of the group phase meeting between the two sides which the South Africans won 3-0.

Prior to the final, Ghana will engage Nigeria in the third play off on Friday at the National Hockey Stadium.

The one-day event organized by the LOC in conjunction with the African Hockey Federation (AfHF), under the theme “Health Perspectives in African Hockey” was to refresh, update and inform health personnel for the July 10 to July 18 championship scheduled for the renovated national Hockey stadium in Accra.

Dr Martin Engmann, Chairman of the Sub-Committee of the LOC said the seminar serves as a platform to address critical issues pertaining to rudiments of African hockey. He expressed optimism that the seminar will aid in the positive direction of African hockey as far as medical issues are concerned.

Among topics discussed include Sports Nutrition, Dehydration, Fluid and Electrolyte Treatment, Doping and Doping Control, Epidemiology of Hockey injuries and Back Pains. Others were Head and Facial Injuries, Hand and Wrist injuries, Foot and Ankle injuries, rehabilitation in Hockey injuries as well as Knee injuries.

The seminar was attended by the medical officers of the participating teams and others related to the tournament. Dr Anthony Annan briefed the participants on sports nutrition and supplements, Dr Agbeko Ocloo handled dehydration, Fluid and Electrolyte Treatment, epidemiology of Hockey injuries, Hands and facial injuries.

This is the first time a seminar of its kind has been organized as far as African hockey is concerned.