NAIROBI, Dec. 18 -- Six countries plan to start an exclusive league to boost the competitiveness of hockey in Africa starting in 2020.
Frank Oti-Mensah, chairman of Ghanaian side Exchequers who are in the country for friendly, said Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria, Uganda and Rwanda are mooting up a plan to start a six-nation league.
The league will offer another level of competition to compliment on the two events run by the Africa Hockey Federation - the African Cup of Nations for national teams and the club competition dubbed African Cup for Club Championship.
Unlike in Europe and America where hockey is a big sport, Africa is facing a dearth in talent and unless individual countries take up the initiative to bolster their leagues and competition, soon there will be no championships within the continent.
"Only a few countries have a vibrant league. There are limited competitions in the continent and unless we change tact, the sport will die in Africa," said Mensah on Wednesday in Nairobi.
"Ghana already has a binding partnership with Kenya. We will try to convince willing nations to join us. Nigeria and the other two East African countries will surely be enough to play in a competitive tournament. Egypt is also a strong friendly country to consider."
Africa has struggled to join the big leagues in Europe and always get eliminated in the preliminary rounds in international competition.
However, Mensah says this six-nation tournament will help improve the standards of the game and exposing more players on the international stage.
"You cannot compare an Africa player who is 20-years-old, with a colleague from Europe. Africa players lack the exposure to compete at the top level largely because of the few competitions in the continent," said Mensah.
Kenya lost its glamour and glory since its last show at the Olympics back in 1984. In August, Kenya hockey teams suffered defeats to Zimbabwe at the Africa Field Hockey 2020 Olympic qualifiers in South Africa.
Kenya finished third during the Africa qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, beating Ghana 4-3 in the play-off.
However, it was South Africa once again who got to represent the continent at the 2016 Rio Olympics after they beat Egypt. South Africa will still represent Africa in Tokyo Olympics.
【高考调研】2017届高三英语一轮复习(外研版)课时规范训练3(含解析)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:必修2 unit4《Cyberspace》(北师大版)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:选修6 unit16《Stories》(北师大版)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:必修3 unit9《Wheels》(北师大版)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:必修1 unit1《Lifestyles》(北师大版)
【加练半小时】2017届高考英语一轮复习练习:第11练 人物传记类(二)(含解析)
Banana skin?
【加练半小时】2017届高考英语一轮复习练习:第13练 旅游与交通(一)(含解析)
【加练半小时】2017届高考英语一轮复习练习:第10练 人物传记类(一)(含解析)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:选修7 unit20《New Frontiers》(北师大版)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:必修1 unit3《Celebration》(北师大版)
【加练半小时】2017届高考英语一轮复习练习:第15练 自然与环保类(一)(含解析)
中国空间站核心舱明年升空
【高考调研】2017届高三英语一轮复习(外研版)课时规范训练1(含解析)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:必修4 unit12《Culture shock》(北师大版)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:选修8 unit23《Conflict》(北师大版)
【加练半小时】2017届高考英语一轮复习练习:第6练 人际关系类(一)(含解析)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:必修5 unit14《Careers》(北师大版)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:选修7 unit21《Human Biology》(北师大版)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:选修6 unit18《Beauty》(北师大版)
【加练半小时】2017届高考英语一轮复习练习:第18练 饮食类(含解析)
中国发布《网络空间国际合作战略》
【加练半小时】2017届高考英语一轮复习练习:第8练 语言学习类(一)(含解析)
胡歌全程飙英文 分享追梦之旅
【加练半小时】2017届高考英语一轮复习练习:第20练 健康与医疗类(二)(含解析)
【加练半小时】2017届高考英语一轮复习练习:第14练 旅游与交通(二)(含解析)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:必修2 unit6《Design》(北师大版)
【加练半小时】2017届高考英语一轮复习练习:第23练 文化习俗类(含解析)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:必修1 unit2《Heroes》(北师大版)
2017版高考一轮复习课件:必修4 unit10《Money》(北师大版)
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |