The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
FOR champions Hippo Valley the secret to staying on top lies in their team’s strong grassroots programme.
“We have a strong grassroots development programme where talented youngsters in the community are identified early and brought into the club system with a developmental pathway mapped out for them,” said Tongai Mukwewa Hippo Valley coach.
What then helped them win every local title on offer during the just-ended 2017 hockey season lies also in the team’s solid preparations.
“Preparation – I think that’s the biggest reason. We train at least three times a week with a high level of discipline and attendance by players.
“We scooped every local trophy in the Harare Indoor League, taking every knockout trophy, namely the Indoor inter-provincial trophy, the outdoor inter-provincial trophy, the HAZ CUP and the Southern Region tournament,” said Mukwewa.
Hippo Valley plays in the Harare Hockey League and has nine players in the national senior team in Donald Mutupo, Arnold Mpofu, Phillip Machaya, Gift Chomunorwa, Tendayi Maredza, Esau Mufandaedza, Pritchard Matambo, Ranga Mungwiniri and Tafadzwa Mugore.
Last week the club had Tendayi Maredza playing for the International All Stars team in the Pro Series Indoor tournament that also featured the World All Stars and the hosts South Africa in Cape Town.
“The sky is the limit and hockey can take you places,” said Mukweva. Hippo juniors have also made the Zimbabwe Under-21, 18 and 16 age group sides.
”What is good is that they see for themselves success stories in their elders,’’ Mukwewa said. Mukwewa, who is also Hippo club founding member, says there is stiff competition for playing places at their club.
“Because of the large pool of talent competition is high for places in the team and keeps players sharp. Yes, locally we are not pushed all the time by opposition so we travel as much as possible to compete in South Africa and Zambia.
“There we get a stern test always.” So what’s next for this club formed in 1997?
“We have just launched a development project that will see the sport player base grow to over 3,000 players by the end of 2018.
“Also the intention is to enter twinning arrangements with overseas clubs so that our players get foreign exposure and lift the Zimbabwe game,” said Mukwewa.
