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

The Vice President of the Ghana Hockey Federation, Elizabeth King, has revealed that players of the national U21 team are devastated after Ghana officially withdrew from the upcoming Junior Africa Cup.

The tournament, set for April 18–25 in Windhoek, Namibia, would have marked the young athletes' debut on the international stage. JoySports first broke the news of Ghana's withdrawal on April 11.

In an exclusive interview, King explained that the federation had submitted a comprehensive budget of approximately $150,000 to the National Sports Authority and the Ministry of Sports, covering airfare, accommodation, meals, and other travel-related expenses. Despite this, no financial support was secured.

“We submitted the budget and all relevant documents, hoping we would receive funding,” King said. “Some players even began training and non-residential camping on their own, anticipating help from the Ministry.”

According to her, the team remained optimistic until April 4, when the Ministry officially informed them of its inability to fund the trip. The federation was then forced to notify the African Hockey Federation of Ghana’s withdrawal — a decision King says shocked the entire continent.

She emphasized the emotional toll on the players, noting that international tournaments are critical to their development and serve as a pathway to senior national selection.

“It was through youth competitions that we built the current national team,” she said, referencing similar events in 2010. “The dream of any young hockey player is to represent Ghana internationally — to miss that chance is truly disheartening.”

The withdrawal also means Ghana will miss out on a shot at qualifying for the Junior World Cup.