Players are heartbroken - Ghana Hockey Vice on teams withdrawal from Championships

Elizabeth King, the Vice President of the Ghana Hockey Federation, shared that U21 players are upset. This follows Ghana's withdrawal from the Junior Africa Cup.

The tournament was set for April 18 to 25 in Windhoek, Namibia. It would have given young players their first international experience.

JoySports reported on April 11 that Ghana would not participate. In an interview, King explained the situation regarding funding.

They submitted a detailed budget to the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ministry of Sports. Unfortunately, they did not receive any financial support.

King mentioned that some players began training at their own expense. They were hopeful for support from the Ministry until April 4.

On that date, the Ministry informed them it could not help. With no options left, they withdrew from the tournament, shocking many.

King emphasized how this decision affected the players emotionally. She noted that international exposure is crucial for their development.

She recalled how youth games helped develop past national teams around 2010. The U21 team competed in East London and South Africa back then.

From those tournaments, many current senior team members emerged. King stated that every hockey player's dream is to compete internationally.

Missing such opportunities can be very disheartening for them. Ghana's absence from the Junior Africa Cup also means missing out on the Junior World Cup opportunity.