Hockey: IEI League final flicks off Friday

[MrVan]

By Ime Bassey

Defending champions Yobe Desert Warriors is expected to lead Nigeria elite hockey clubs in finals of the International Energy Insurance (IEI) Premier Hockey League this Friday, August 24, 2012 through to September 1, 2012 at the Abuja Hockey Pitches.

The tournament is the flagship of the Nigeria Hockey Federation and would signal a befitting end to the 2012 league.

The IEI league flicked off early this year with the Atlantic Conference National League holding in Port Harcourt and featuring clubs in the national league before moving on to Kaduna where the Savannah Conference was held.

Kaduna and Kano teams qualified in the male category from the Kaduna zone, with matches played at the Murtala Mohammed Square, while in the female category, Benue hockey team came tops and qualified for the Premier League final alongside Kano female teams.

Female teams expected in Abuja for the one-week round-robin tournament include Bayelsa Queens, Plateau Queens, Yobe Desert Queens, Heartland Flickers, Ondo Babes, I.G. babes, Edo Queens, Benue State, Kaduna Queens and Delta Queens .

The male teams are: Niger flickers, Union Bank, Plateau Tigers, Bayelsa Kings, Police Machine, Delta Flickers, Kaduna Flickers, Kano State and Ondo Flickers.

Winners and runners-up in both categories would represent the country at the Africa Club Championship in November.

Heartland Flickers has won the Club Championship back to back from 2010 while they would have a hard nut to crack in Bayelsa Queens, who would be defending their title.

 

Vanguard Nigeria