The European Hockey Federation has been working with member National Associations in Greece and Slovenia to progress the coach development and youth development programmes in collaboration with the FIH Targeted Assistance Programme during the past year and recently Belgium Hockey got in touch with the EHF and FIH about donating kit and equipment to these programmes following a change in headline sponsorship for national and junior teams.
This resulted in a transnational partnership between all Hockey Federations involved providing the Slovenian and Greek Coaches plus the schoolchildren who are actively involved in taking up hockey through these programmes the chance to be kitted out!
In Greece on the last day of the Junior Tournament, on Sunday 20 October 2019 the Hellenic Hockey Federation delivered to all participating young girls and boys, the polo shirts that Belgian Hockey donated to Greece. “This was a sound plus to the Tournament that was very much appreciated by the young athletes, the parents and the coaches of the academies.” Glowed Jorgos Dramitinos who is heading the drive for more coaches and young people to be involved in hockey in Greece. He continued “We once more would like to thank Belgian Hockey for the generous donation that will remind forever to the kids, their competitions in hockey, and, of course, you, that decided to deliver to Greece.”
General Secretary of Slovenian Hockey Sanja Zelko agreed with her new coaches who recently qualified with FIH Academy Level 1 certificates about organising a short festival for school kids. It will be on the 1st of December at Murska Sobota school with all clubs promoting the event. The donation from Belgium will be handed out to all those involved at what will be a fun festival for those interested in trying hockey to experience as the EHF work together with the Federation supported by FIH TAP to develop the level of coaching and awareness across schools in Slovenia.
Sanja Zelko stated, “This is huge – thank you very much once again to all the organisations involved in supporting us.”
A donation to the Slovenian hockey players was made on 1 December during a hockey festival held at Murska Sobota School in Ljubljana.
Speaking about the initiative and the growth of hockey in Greece and Slovenia, President of the EHF, Marijke Fleuren says: “Gratefulness is the word that comes to me, realising what it means to Greece and Slovenia to receive such a gift. Gratefulness this time to the Belgian Hockey Federation for their generosity to others. Real champions.”
Pictured are the coaches and players during the festival in Ljubljana!