African Hockey To Assist Algeria to Establish Hockey Association

The African Hockey Federation and the National Olympic Committee of Algeria (COA) signed a Memorandum of Understand (MoU) to establish a Hockey Association and to include Hockey in the sports for the Africa Youth Games scheduled for 5-15 July 2018.

The landmark agreement was signed during a working visit of the President of the AfHF to Algeria to confer with the President of the NOC of Algeria, Dr. Mustapha Berraf.

Under the MoU, the AfHF working in close collaboration with the FIH will provide service and support towards the establishment of an Algeria Hockey Association and further support COA with an initial playing equipment package.

The AfHF in collaboration with the FIH will also establish a Targeted Assistance Programme (TAP) and provide an FIH Hockey Academy Expert to deliver the agreed project over a period of one year.

As part of the development mission, the FIH Hockey Academy Expert will prepare two (2) teams, male and female, to represent Algeria in the Africa Youth Games. The mission will also include launching hockey in targeted schools and clubs, and running education programmes for sports teachers to empower them to deliver hockey in their schools.

On their part, COA will include Hockey-5s as an official sport of the 2018 Africa Youth Games to be held in Algiers; Provide the requisite infrastructure (an artificial turf hockey facility), including field of play equipment according to the rules and regulations of Hockey-5s; Support a clear plan towards the establishment of an Algeria Hockey Association and subsequent application to become a member of AfHF and FIH; and Enable active participation by boys and girls in the TAP through supporting them to attend training and development sessions at the hockey venue.

The AfHF has set in motion action to ensure the initial steps towards establishing the Algerian Hockey Association are in place with the objective of finalizing same for Algeria to become a member of the FIH during the 45th Biennial Congress scheduled for November 12, 2016 in Dubai.

The African Hockey family is excited at the prospects of having the sport re-instated in a Continental multi-sport event and have expressed optimism of its maintenance in subsequent senior level multi-sports events.