Accra to Host Africa’s First Masters Hockey Tournament as Four Nations Meet
Accra is about to host something African hockey hasn’t seen before. Four nations, three age-group titles, one week, and free entry for anyone who wants to watch.
The maiden Citizens International Masters Invitational Hockey Tournament runs from 17 to 22 November at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium in Accra. Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda are all sending teams, and the event closes out Citizens International Hockey Club’s 40th anniversary celebrations under the theme “Experience Never Retires.”
It’s a fitting way to mark four decades. Citizens International was founded in 1985 and has spent that time working across Ghanaian hockey, from youth level right through to masters. Now they’re bringing the continent’s masters game home.
Three competitions, three stories
The men’s Over-40 is a three-team round-robin between Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. The men’s Over-50 is a straight two-match series between Ghana and Nigeria, which is about as fierce a West African rivalry as you’ll find in any sport. The women’s Over-35 is another two-match series, Ghana against Kenya.
Matches start on Wednesday 18 November. Kenya meet Uganda in the Over-40 opener at 8:30am local time (1:30pm PKT), Kenya face Ghana in the women’s Over-35 at 1:45pm (6:45pm PKT), and the day closes with the headline Over-50 clash, Nigeria against Ghana at 3:30pm (8:30pm PKT).
Thursday 19 November has Ghana against Kenya in the Over-40 at 1:45pm (6:45pm PKT) and the second women’s Over-35 match at 3:30pm (8:30pm PKT). Friday 20 November brings Uganda against Ghana in the Over-40 at 1:45pm and the second leg of the Over-50 series, Ghana against Nigeria, at 3:30pm. All three finals are on Saturday 21 November from 1:45pm (6:45pm PKT).
Why it matters
Ghanaian masters players have built up real international miles in recent years, playing at the European Hockey Masters and the World Hockey Masters. This tournament brings that standard home, and the organisers want it to become a regular fixture on the African calendar rather than a one-off anniversary party.
“This tournament was an appropriate way to celebrate the club’s four-decade journey by bringing leading masters players from across Africa to Accra,” said Citizens International chairman Kwame Owusu. “Our theme, Experience Never Retires, speaks to every player on the pitch who has given decades to this sport and still has more to give.”
Samuel Ofosu, chairman of the local organising committee, said preparations were on course and invited the public and media to get behind the teams. Admission to every match is free, and the organisers are encouraging schools and families to come along.
For our money, the Ghana-Nigeria Over-50 series is the tie to watch. Two matches, old rivals, and a trophy at the end of it. But the bigger story is the tournament itself. Masters hockey barely gets a mention outside Europe, and a four-nation event in Accra, run with the Ghana Hockey Association and the Masters Hockey Association of Ghana, is exactly the kind of thing that grows the game where it needs growing.
Full schedule (all times local, PKT in brackets): Wed 18 Nov: Kenya v Uganda (M40) 8:30am (1:30pm PKT); Kenya v Ghana (W35) 1:45pm (6:45pm PKT); Nigeria v Ghana (M50) 3:30pm (8:30pm PKT). Thu 19 Nov: Ghana v Kenya (M40) 1:45pm (6:45pm PKT); Kenya v Ghana (W35) 3:30pm (8:30pm PKT). Fri 20 Nov: Uganda v Ghana (M40) 1:45pm (6:45pm PKT); Ghana v Nigeria (M50) 3:30pm (8:30pm PKT). Sat 21 Nov: finals, all categories, from 1:45pm (6:45pm PKT).
