NAN-S-1
Sponsorship
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, May 18, 2017 (NAN) Former President of the Nigeria Hockey Federation, (NHF), Abdul Ningi has solicited the support of the tree tiers of government to support hockey through sponsorship to further develop the sport.
Ningi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
“Government should show interest and commitment to the game of hockey for corporate bodies to be willing to invest.
“Nobody will want to put money in a place where nothing will come out. For hockey to be adequately developed, government needs to fund competitions like the national leagues.
“It is when a competition gets adequate funding that it attracts people to come and watch, and when people come to watch, investors get value for their money.
“Government has not been funding hockey in the past four years, nothing at all has come to the federation, the ongoing national league one is funded by individual contributions, ’’he said.
Ningi expressed satisfaction with the level of play in the national hockey league one, adding that the officiating was good.
“I am delighted that very young men and ladies have come from state without Astroturf pitch and are playing well.
“I also am glad to see the techniques and the interest displayed by the players. One could have imagined the kind of game we would witness if they were coming from Astroturf base states, the officiating is fantastic and the administration, very good.
“This is our first event in the hockey calendar, even though we are dissolved as a federation, this is our baby, and we are running this competition regardless of any money from any government.
“This is something that we have decided on our own to contribute money in making sure that we run this tournament.’’
NAN reports that the 2017 national league one which started on Monday will end on Saturday at the Abuja National Stadium.(NAN)
DE/KOLE/DUA
Edited by Remi Koleoso/Dada Ahmed