The Oyo State Government, through the State Sports Council, started the Hockey Fiesta in Ibadan, the state capital, with approximately 236 players and 48 teams participating in the game on Saturday.
The event, held at Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan, was a collaboration with the Rocket Grassroots Sports Foundation and Summa Food Limited as a sponsor.
Oluyemi Siyanbola, the Chairman of Rocket Grassroots Sports Foundation, stated that the intention of the game was to engage and train youths through sports.
“The foundation, a non-governmental organization, is devoted to using sports, particularly hockey, to divert youths from the streets.
As a hockey coach in the state, I observed a time when hockey was at its peak, with the employment of a foreign coach for various tournaments and up to 10 national players. However, the current situation is declining,” he said.
Siyanbola also mentioned that there were four categories in the fiesta.
Tunde Ajibike, the General Manager of the state sports council, also remarked that the purpose of the fiesta, deliberately timed for the Easter period, was to unite hockey players.
He explained, “It's a type of gathering to bring different categories of hockey players together. The aim is to raise awareness about hockey sports and attract new players, especially from the grassroots level, by targeting the under-12 category, with the belief that they will eventually participate in national games.
He added, “It's a way of discovering new talents among the hockey players and to emphasize that hockey sports are still thriving and relevant in the world of sports.”
The Treasure team secured third place and Precious came second in the two against two female category. In the male category, Big Boys emerged as the winners while Ronaldo came second. In the junior category, Highfliers took first place, Carthage Lions second, and Academicas third.
Dynamic Babes claimed first position in the senior female category, followed by Olumo Babes in second place, and Kemi Ogundupe Team in third.
In the male category, Fire Fire secured first position, Ondo Flicks took second, and Team Baba Jaid came third.
God is Good claimed the top position in the masters category, while Oluduro Adeyemo, also known as Pablo Squad, got second, and Oyo Maste came in third.
