Infrastructure, Key To Grassroots Hockey Dev – Coach

Head Coach of the Lagos State Hockey Association, Edet Bassey,  has urged the Federal Government to provide infrastructure for the development of the game at the grassroots.

Edet told newsmen in Lagos, that the provision of such infrastructure was necessary if the country hoped to become the best in Africa.

He said that the lack of infrastructure and the absence of a strategic programme for hockey development were a major challenge for the development of the sport in the country.

He said that a country like South Africa was among the world’s best hockey-playing nations because they had focused on infrastructure and grassroots development.

“In South Africa every county has a pitch, every local government has not less than ten pitches, which people have access to.

“Equipment there might not be as costly as it is here, for example, to kit a goalkeeper you need at least N350, 000.”

Bassey said that Lagos State at the moment lacked standard hockey pitches for training but noted that things could get better with time.

He said that in spite of the challenges, the state had a good team that could compete for medals at the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF).

“We don’t have any right now, but the state is trying, not a single hockey pitch and the hockey pitch we have claimed was built on National Stadium soil.

“That was where the former hockey pitch was. This was where the National hockey pitch had been. It was Lagos state that built it during the FIFA  U-17.

“I am quite sure that with the team we have on ground, Lagos state is the team anybody has to beat.”

He then, urged governments at various levels to pay attention to hockey and pleaded with the private sector to assist governments in supporting the growth of the sport.