Cape Coast based Adisadel College underlined their peerless pedigree in hockey by defeating Prempeh College 2-0 to emerge champions of the Boys division of the 2025 National Senior High Schools (SHS) and Colleges Championships, whereas Yaa Asantewaa Girls SHS of Kumasi ruled the Girls category following a 5-4 penalty shootout over St. Francis SHS in the final last Sunday at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium in Accra.
The highly competitive 3-day tournament for Ghana’s top hockey playing second cycle schools cut across several regions began on Friday with preliminary round ties which continued early Saturday.
The top 8 in each of boys and girls divisions then advanced into the knockout rounds, with both quarter and semi final fixtures honoured later same day, deep into the night under the beaming floodlights of the Theodosia Okoh Stadium. It set the stage perfectly for the finals on Sunday, preceded by a curtain raiser for 3rd place featuring the losing semi finalists.
Adisco began with a dull goalless stalemate against Presec Legon before outclassing Ebenezer SHS 3-0 in their second match to qualify for the quarter finals. A slim 1-0 victory over regional rivals, St. Augustine’s College booked their spot in the semi where again they needed just one goal to overcome Opoku Ware School, Kumasi and seal a place in the coveted final.
Yaa Asantewaa, like Adisco, also played both preliminary round ties on Friday, beating Holy Child SHS of Central Region 1-0 before putting 6 unanswered strikes past Arch-Bishop Porter Girls to book their quarter final spot. 1-0 they saw off Edinaman in the last 8 to make the semis where they defeated regional rivals Kumasi Girls SHS 2-0 to earn a spot in the decisive game of the girls competition.
Third place went to Opoku Ware who beat St Francis 2-0 (Boys) and Kumasi Girls after edging GHANASS 3-2 on penalties.
The champions collective triumphs were reflected in the individual awards which saw Curtis Oppong of Adisco and Suzzy Brago Asomani of Yaa Asantewaa named Boys and Girls’ MVP respectively. Asomani made it a double by winning the top scorer award for girls with 3 goals whilst Kingsford Arhin Asante topped the boys division with 6 goals.
Meanwhile, Best Goalkeeper awards went to Nicholas Adjei-Obeng of Prempeh College (Boys) and St Francis SHS’ Alberta Boateng (Girls). Christopher Quarcoo of St. Francis (Boys) and Akorfa Ofori of Hope College (Girls) were awarded Most Promising Player whilst St Peters SHS and GHANASS, Koforidua were named recipients of Development School Award for boys and girls respectively, sponsored by Mr Frank Oti-Mensah.
With the multitude of talents which were showcased during the 3-day hockey festival powered by the Ghana Hockey Association in partnership with the Ghana Education Service, it’s safe to say the country’s future in the sport is secured as the best performers were singled out for potential selection into the national youth teams and recruitment into clubs.
