The Niger State hockey team, Niger Flickers are in danger of missing out on this year’s ICC tournament holding in Zimbabwe early next month due to lack of funds. Sources close to the team revealed that since the tournament will Clash with the National Sports Festival in Lagos, the state may experience the challenge of sponsorship to Zimbabwe. Niger State has been the home of hockey in Nigeria having won two out of the last three hockey leagues in the country and have represented the country in the last four continental tourneys and each time improving on their performances.
In an exclusive chat with LEADERSHIP SPORTS, team Manager Mohammed Danjuma Kolo believes the team will still make it to the tournament in Zimbabwe due to the commitment and zeal of the state governor Babangida Aliyu who during his tenure the game of hockey has grew to the next level. He said: “The governor has never failed us, we understand he is spending a lot for the festival contingent and will also not forget the zimbabwe bound Niger hockey team and that hockey in Niger State has always had 100 percent support from the chief servant. States like Imo, Yobe and Bayelsa will travel to Zimbabwe for the tournament and we hope Niger which is the leading team in hockey in the country will not miss out on the tourney, we have less than 20 days to the tournament and we believe the chief servant will support us.”
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