National Teams Arrive in the Netherlands

The national men and women’s teams arrived to a typical chilly around 15ºC Dutch weather on Saturday morning to undertake a two weeks training tour as part of the finalization of their preparations towards the African Olympic Qualifier scheduled for Nairobi, Kenya.

The 51 member contingent was met on arrival at the Amsterdam Schipol Airport by the FIH appointed coaching assistant for the men’s team Reinoud Wolff and some members of the Netherlands Hockey Board (KNHB). The teams were transported by luxury coaches to their base in Eindhoven where they checked into the plush Hotel Van der Valk located close to the stadium of the hosts, Netherlands Premiership side Orange and Zwart Hockey Club (OZ).

After a short welcome, the teams were briefed on their programmes for the period of their stay. The men’s team were to take a rest and plunge straight into training before lunch after a short rest to help them shake-off the jet lag. The team was then to retire after lunch and have another training session in the evening to prepare them for the 4-Nations invitational tournament due to start on Monday June 25.

As per the arrangements put in place by Mr. Theo Ykema, FIH Member of Honour who visited Ghana in April this year, the Women’s team will be assisted by an experienced KNHB recognised coach Ms Ineke Botden. Ms. Botden is a professional top coach in the Netherlands, with highest accreditations of the Netherlands Hockey Association KNHB. Her track record include, head coach duties with teams in the Ladies Premier League and National Junior Girls Team Head Coach in the Netherlands. She has also worked in various countries as coach or coaching consultant. During the stay of the ladies’ team Ms Botden will be at the forefront of arranging training sessions, games and extra assistants such as the services of goalkeepers’ trainers, penalty corner experts and others. The women’s team was due to converge later on Saturday afternoon to shake off the jet lag with a training session.

The men commence their tour with a one week competition starting Monday June 25 with a game against the Netherlands National Under-21 side (Young Orange) at 16:00hrs Netherlands time. The Ghanaian team takes a rest on Tuesday and square-off with Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday June 27 at 15:00hrs. Thursday 16:00hrs will be the turn of Portugal to face the might of the Ghanaians and Saturday will see the team come face to face with Brabant, a provincial team of Brabant. The matches against Young Orange and Brabant which are not considered as full national teams will not be considered nor recorded as official international matches. The result of the all other matches at normal full time in the tournament will however be recorded in the FIH records and for the FIH ranking system.

Team managers briefing with FIH Tournament Director has been scheduled for Sunday June 24 at 16.00hrs and the Umpires briefing with FIH Umpires Manager and Tournament Director for Monday June 25, 11.00hrs both at OZ clubhouse.

The Officials for the Ghanaian contingent consist of: Richard Akpokavie (Vice Chairman, GHA) – Team Leader, Elizabeth King (GHA Member), Osei-Boakye Yiadom (Head Coach, Men’s Team), Richard Abaidoo (Head Coach, Women’s Team), Edmond Zankoh (Asst. Coach, Men), Emmanuel Ahadjie (Asst Coach, Women), Agatha Hagan (Team Manager, Women), Kester Ajao (Team Manager-Men) Gaeten Adangabey (Team Physiotherapist), Richmond Attippoe and Hagar Laryea (World Hockey outdoor umpires).