The Edo State Hockey Association Board, led by Dr. Walter Imoedemhe, is pleased to announce the inaugural Youth Hockey Fiesta scheduled for Saturday at the St. Maria Goretti College hockey stadium in Benin City. Participating teams will include St. Maria Goretti College, Benin; Niger College, Benin; Idia College, Benin; and Our Lady of Fatima College, Auchi.
In addition to the youth tournament, there will be veteran masters matches featuring Edo Hockey Masters (male and female), Goretti Old Girls, and the UNIBEN hockey teams. Furthermore, the event will observe the generous donation of 30 sticks, 30 balls, 32 jerseys, and goalkeepers kits to the students of St. Maria Gorretti by the Old Girls Association.
This tournament signifies the association’s dedication to enhancing the pilot schools’ development. Efforts include establishing hockey centres and assigning coaches from the Edo State Sports Commission to these schools. It presents an opportunity to evaluate the association’s progress over the past year.
During a recent board meeting, Imoedemhe expressed gratitude to the members for their commitment to fulfilling their promises to the athletes. He commended the board for their unwavering support, particularly in the face of limited government assistance.
The association’s initiatives have been made possible through the support of Setraco Nigeria Ltd, Amobi Engineering, Estymol Oil and Gas, in collaboration with the Edo State Sports Commission.
Looking forward, Imoedemhe expressed hope that the government would further support their initiatives. This includes repairing dilapidated training facilities, hiring programme athletes for hockey, and sponsoring the state team at the upcoming national league in Kaduna on July 29.
The Edo State Hockey Association is dedicated to developing the sport at the grassroots level and is grateful for the ongoing support from partners and sponsors.
The Youth Hockey Fiesta this weekend promises to be an exhilarating showcase of talent and a celebration of the hard work and dedication of the young athletes and the association. We anticipate witnessing the passion and camaraderie on display as these teams come together for what is sure to be a memorable event.