Ghana Wins Double Bronze

The male and female junior national hockey teams gave Ghana hope when they both won bronze medals at the Africa Under-21 competition which ends on Saturday. The young ladies, playing in a competitive hockey tournament for the first time in their lives, defeated Nigeria 2-1 via the penalty stroke route after a closely fought scoreless match which went into extra-time. In their first meeting, the two teams drew 0-0. The Ghana girls gave a good account of themselves and showed the depth of the potential of Ghana Hockey.

In the boys' competition, Ghana placed third in the six-team competition and had to confirm their medal status by playing minnows Libya after Kenya stupidly withdrew from the competition on the final day of the group matches. Though the bronze medal match was an anticipated clash of Ghana and Kenya, this never happened because of the Kenyan's decision to turn their backs on their country with that mediocre decicion. Many however believed it wouldn't have mattered as they expected the Ghanaians to repeat the 3-2 win or better the scoreline against the Kenyans. Ghana brushed aside Libya 11-0 in a near one-sided match to clinch bronze. The teams are expected back in Accra during the evening of Saturday July 19 2008.