One of Ghana’s finest hockey umpires, Adimah Aziz, has earned another major international appointment after being selected to officiate at the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup, scheduled to take place in Cape Town from June 11 to 20.
The appointment, handed down by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Umpiring Committee, marks Aziz’s second international assignment at the top level, underlining his steady rise on the global officiating stage.
Earlier this year in March, Aziz was among the selected umpires for the FIH Men’s World Cup Qualifier Playoffs held in Ismailia. His impressive performance during the playoffs earned him the prestigious role of umpire for the final match between England and Pakistan, an appointment widely seen as a strong vote of confidence in his abilities.
Reacting to the latest call-up, Aziz described the Nations Cup invitation as recognition of his performance in Egypt. “I think it’s more or less a satisfactory endorsement of my performance in Egypt for the World Cup qualifiers. And for me, it’s another step further to go and showcase what you can do and what you can do as a Ghanaian and for the whole hockey fraternity.”
Beyond personal achievement, Aziz believes his journey serves as motivation for younger officials coming through the ranks. “This appointment also paves the way and gives hope to those behind me that if you put in hard work, if you put in the effort, you will be rewarded for your efforts. For me, it is more or less another tournament to build on, another tournament to work on.”
Aziz made no secret of his ultimate goals on the international stage. “Remember, the aim is to officiate in the World Cup or the Olympics before I retire, so this appointment is also another stage, another step to get things right and then get promoted.”
On the domestic front, Aziz remains a highly respected figure. He has consistently been the go-to umpire for top and high-profile encounters, particularly in the Sapholda Hockey League, where his consistency and authority have earned widespread admiration.
As he heads to Cape Town, Aziz carries not just his whistle, but the hopes of Ghana’s hockey fraternity, firmly positioning himself as one of the country’s standout officials on the international scene.
By; Victoria Kwofie
