By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)
The Sierra Leone Hockey Association (SLHA has acknowledged that the association) is making noteworthy progresses in promoting the sport among young athletes.
Speaking to Abubakarr Sesay, the President of SLHA said eight (8) teams are contesting in this year’s competition, namely: Leone Rangers, (which are the emerging leaders), Sierra Hockey, Central Hockey, Hill Stars, UCC Orphanage and Dock Cannol for the men’s category. He added that the other category only focused on women’s and children alliance, and they are: Friends in Sport, Zebra Hockey, Wilberforce United, and Hockey Pitch and Waterloo Hockey respectively.
Even though they are catering for kids between the ages of 10 and 17 years with a specific reference on nurturing their talents and developing them into skilled hockey players at local and international, the president had this to say:
“We have U-15 and U-17 kids who are presently undergoing training. Our aim is to catch them young and mentor them into extraordinary hockey players. We have embarked on a nationwide tournament starting in the Western Area, where we are conducting pilot league session at the Field of Dreams, Newton Rogbere, Westen Rural Area the East End of Freetown. [The] objective is to raise consciousness about hockey and its presence in the country.”
Sesay further revealed the association’s plans to recruit the Western Area Hockey League following the dry season.
They have already received registrations from 31 clubs, demonstrating the growing interest and interest for the sport.
With support from the Ministry of Sports (MOS), the National Olympic Committee (NOC), and the National Sports Authority (NOC), hockey association hopes to launch a national league that will span across the country in the future.
The Hockey President avidly appealed to the government, donor partners and all stakeholders to recognize hockey as a sport with the potential to yield income for Sierra Leone.
“Beyond financial benefits, hockey can positively impact the lives of young people, offering them an alternative to harmful activities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of media and marketing of SLHA, Michael Musa Sesay, emphasized that hockey can play a pivotal role in transforming the lives of youth who may be going awry, channeling their energy and potential towards becoming stars in the country. Completely engaging with the sport, young people can be steered away from destructive performances and directed towards a brighter future, he added.
For those unfamiliar with the sport,, Michael Musa, provided [them] a brief guide to understanding field hockey. “It involves two teams, each with 11 players, who use specially designed sticks to compete in an hour-long match and score goals to win the game,” he stated.
In addition to the above development, the association is also promoting Hockey5s, a shorter and faster variant of the sport.
Similar to T20 cricket, Rugby7s, and 3×3 basketball, Hockey5s aims to make the game quicker, simpler, and more entertaining for both players and viewers.
The format gained international attention during the 2014 Youth Olympics in China and is now played in over 60 nations.
However, the Sierra Leone Hockey Association’s dedication to youth development and the growth of hockey in the country shows promising prospects for the sport’s future, and it’s igniting hope for a vibrant and successful hockey scene in Sierra Leone.