I heard on the news yesterday that Africa has seven of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Africa is reputed to be the “Continent of Opportunity”, the Continent which is yet to fulfil its full potential – or so say some well-known economists. Some cynics have a contrary view, saying Africa is a ‘basket case!’
It is also a continent where “true democracy” is not a common and cherished concept. It is a Continent where travel is generally neither cheap nor easy, language and cultural differences abound.
But that should not prevent African Hockey Administrators in every country working together, co-operating and assisting one another to develop the game on this Continent, because we are bound by our love for the game.
One of the candidates for the new post of Project Manager for the African Hockey Federation told me that the concept of ‘twinning’ – where better developed hockey nations assist their neighbours – is not necessarily the solution. Well, in my opinion, it has to be part of the solution together with innovative planning and cost-effective implementation of those plans.
For those who are keen to develop hockey in their country and on the Continent there is an amazing amount of information on the internet. We can share ideas, expertise and resources to make us stronger. The whole will certainly better than the sum of the parts.
So if we are going to make a difference and make Africa a truly competitive Continental Hockey Federation the time has come to step forward.
Please make sure your National Association is represented at the African Hockey Federation’s Congress in Nairobi, Kenya on 5 October 2013 and participate in the move to lift African Hockey to a higher level!
Can we do it?
In the words of Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, whose father was born in Kenya – “Yes we can!”
Steve Jaspan is the Chairman of the FIH High Performance and Coaching Advisory Panel. The South African native contributes a monthly column to the FIH website called Viewpoint.
