The national male hockey team have begun intensive non-residential camping at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium in Accra in preparation for the Africa qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games.

The tournament, slated for August 12-18 in Stellenbosch, South Africa, will see host South Africa, Egypt, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and neighbouring Nigeria competing for the sole ticket to represent Africa at the Tokyo Olympics.

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The head coach of the national male hockey team, Mr Ebenezer Frimpong, told the Graphic Sports Online that both the technical team and the 27 players were eager to break the jinx surrounding their encounters with Egypt and South Africa during such tournaments this time around.

“The attitude in camp shows that the players are more focused and determined to prove their worth as world class players capable of flying the flag of Ghana high at the elite level of hockey,” he said.

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“Currently, I do not see any difference between Ghana, Egypt and South Africa. It is a matter of who take their chances in such tournaments. But this time, we are more determined to take our chances and overpower them to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 tournament,” Coach Frimpong noted.

According to Coach Frimpong, the players would fly to South Africa a week before the tournament to play an international tournament to put them in a competitive spirit.

Source: Graphic.com.gh