By Femi Atolagbe

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The Ondo State Hockey team, Sunshine Flickers, excelled at the recently concluded Endyfast National Hockey 5-a-Side competition, clinching a gold medal and winning two individual awards.

Ondo State presented two teams for the competition: Sunshine Flickers and Ondo Flickers. While Sunshine Flickers won a gold medal, Ondo Flickers were eliminated in the quarter-finals.

Sunshine Flickers player, Ayodele Olajuwon, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the competition, while Adeola Samuel of Ondo Flickers won the Most Promising Player award.

Thirty teams, including those from Ogun and Oyo states, participated in the championship held at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos State.

In a chat with Sporting Hope, the Head Coach of the Ondo State Hockey team, Mark Oloruntola, commended his players for the remarkable achievement, stating that they are committed to working hard to continually get the best out of the team.

Oloruntola also mentioned that they would resume training immediately upon returning to their bases in preparation for another tournament to be held in Osun State.

 He added that he wants his players to be at their best before the commencement of their league next year.

He said the greatest challenges facing the team are funding and inadequate facilities for training.

“I appeal to the Ondo State Government to expedite action on the renovation of our stadium and the ongoing construction of the hockey pitch at the car park,” he said.