Head Coach of the national hockey team Ali Ghazanfar is yet to win a game at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Ghana have lost three games and drawn one, against Canada.
The Black Sticks lost 11-0 to India, beaten by England, before Scotland beat the team 6-1 on Wednesday.
The Ghana Hockey Association led by Dr. Ben Asante, and the management of the team are doing everything possible to see them at world competitions and give them all the exposure.
However, their effort seems not enough since they are playing with world class teams who are competing in all world championships. India, England, South Africa, Pakistan, Scotland among others were all part of the just ended world championships hosted by Finland.
According to the head coach, Ali Ghazanfar, his target was to get the Ghana team the needed exposure to match up the world teams.
“Our target was to show the world that Ghana too can play hockey,” he said.
“We want to improve in each game and we have.
“We have won a lot of crowd. They believe in us that we can play some nice hockey games.”
Both the men’s and women’s team played some great hockey and received cheers from the crowd, which seems to send a positive signal to the rest of the world.
“Ghana teams received all the applause, all the praise.”
He added: “Ghana have played some incredible hockey games and our men’s team are strong and fit.”
Ali is of the view that if Ghana hockey can improve in order to match up the rest of the world a lot of exposure and experience should be provided to the team.
“The continuation of this process is key and we must not just stop here and start again after 4 years. We are playing and must be ready to match up the world.
“We’re playing with the top teams in the world at the Commonwealth Games and we’re matching their fitness and compatibility.
“Because of lack of exposure and the experience the other teams have, is the main challenge we are experiencing as a nation which has been the problem.”
He concluded: “The other countries now know that Ghana’s team is coming up and it is a wake-up call to the world.”
Source: 3news.com|Ghana