The maiden edition of the iLeague came to an exciting end on Thursday 25th June, 2020. The league which was organised with the motive of creating a social media awareness of the Greater Accra hockey league as well as keeping the hockey fraternity active during the Covid-19 was received well by the hockey community.
The league which lasted for a month had all 20 (twenty) Greater Accra Hockey clubs participating. The clubs were grouped into four divisions namely; Men, Women, Masters and Youth. After close to thirty match days, Legon Knights Hockey club emerged winners in the Men’s Division with 7 wins out of 8 matches played. They were followed by GRA, Exchequers, Police and Reformers. The Knights showed their dominating presence on social media to earn their first silverware in their 10 years of existence.
In the Women’s division, GRA continued their superiority with six wins in as many matches played. They were followed by arch rivals Police ladies in second place with Extinguishers and Reformers placing third and fourth respectively.
The Youth division also saw a new champion as Kasoa Heroes formerly Tema Youth defied all odds to lift the ultimate. It was a one sided affair for the Heroes as they led from match day one till the final match day. With nine wins out of 10 matches played, the Heroes beat Youth Masters – Real Ambassadors to the trophy.
The masters division was another surprising story as Citizens International beat the likes of Sapholda and Multi Stix to the ultimate. The only International Hockey club in Ghana as they are affectionately called, completed the league unbeaten in 8 matches played to emerge winners.
Format
The iLeague is an online hockey league with the winner decided by votes. It’s in a poll format where two teams are made to face each other at a time. The team with the highest votes at the end of the stipulated time gets all three points. The poll is done in a way that an individual can vote once and also undo his vote as and when he wants to within the duration of the poll.
Speaking to isports360, Mr. Kingsley Boakye (Head of the iLeague Board) thanked all who made it possible.
“I am grateful to the Ghana Hockey Association, Greater Accra Hockey Association, Greater Accra Hockey clubs and their followers as well as the entire Hockey populace in Ghana for helping us make iLeague a success. It wasn’t easy from the onset but we thank God for helping us sail through”, he said.
“To the winners, we say a big ‘ayekoo’ for emerging champions of the maiden edition of the iLeague. We are going to make this an annual tournament. The idea is to create an awareness of Ghana hockey on social media. We are in a course to make Ghana Hockey great and big. This is out first step and we won’t give up till hockey gets there”, he concluded.
Source: Wiseman Ayettey – Isports360
