THE Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF) will flick off the 2012 season with the inaugural NHF Top 4 Championship for Adekunle Kukoyi Cup holding from April 11 to 14 at the hockey pitches of the Lagos National Stadium.According to the NHF President, Patrick Ukah, the tournament is named after the former NHF president, Adekunle Kukoyi, who passed away 10 years ago and it would be competed for by the top four male and female teams in the country.'We are naming the tournament after the former NHF president to celebrate his 10th memorial anniversary and we have his family in total support of this tournament,' Ukah explained.He added, 'the top four teams in the 2011 national league in both male and female category will converge in Lagos to compete for the maiden edition of this championship that will also flick off the hockey season in Nigeria.'The teams are Niger Flickers, Yobe Desert Warriors, Plateau Tigers and Union Bank for the male category while Bayelsa Queens, Imo Heartlands, Yobe Desert Queens and Plateau Queens would battle for honour in the female category.It was also revealed that the tournament was made possible by the financial support of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), family of Kukoyi, the immediate past Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele and NHF President with some board members.An umpire/judges clinic would hold in the course of the tournament, which would also serve as test run for the forthcoming National Sports Festival to be hosted by Lagos State. While the teams are expected to hit Lagos immediately after Easter, they would be camped at the Union Bank Sports Complex, same for officiating officers.Meanwhile decorated hockey technical man, Barr. Walter Imoedemhe has been named as the technical director of the tournament, the umpire manager is Bashir Mabudi and assistant umpire manager is Salisu Jabbo.
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