Federation explains Nigeria’s early ouster

The Hockey Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has attributed Nigeria’s ouster from the 2017 African Clubs Hockey Championship in Kenya to late preparation for the tournament.

Chairman, Niger State Hockey Association, Sani Legbo Kutigi, said in Minna at the weekend that Nigeria’s representative, Niger Flickers, did not go to camp early to make the team technically sound.

“Many of the countries that featured in this year’s championship were in camp for almost six months and this were the teams we beat thoroughly last year in Zambia,” he said.

Kutigi maintained that Nigeria’s performance at last year’s tournament in Zambia was impressive due to early preparation.

“Last year, we won a bronze medal at the continental level and we were hoping to build on this achievement in the same competition this year, but we couldn’t make it past the group stage.

“Hopefully, by next year if we are able to pick the ticket again to represent Nigeria we will surely do better,” he said.

He thanked the Niger state government for sponsoring the team to the competition and maintained that next year they will not disappoint the state and the country at large.