The Sunday Mail
Zimbabwe’s representatives at the Africa Cup of Hockey Club Championships are confident of landing silverware at the continental tournament which roars to life in Bulawayo next weekend.
The tournament runs from November 22 to 30 and Zimbabwe will be represented by three teams: Eradicators, Hippo, and women’s side Bulawayo Athletic Club.
Financial limitations had threatened to derail their participation, but the teams have since made headway in sourcing sponsorship and are now just a combined “$10 000 short of a successful participation.”
Eradicators assistant coach Prince Mwale said he was looking forward to the commencement of the games.
“I am obviously very much involved and have been fortunate enough to be closer to all the teams and what I have seen is encouraging and a sure sign we will give the visitors a good run for their money.
“Training is going on well, the guys are working very hard and I am confident it is going to be quite an experience for them and the hockey family as a whole,” said Mwale.
Hippo’s Tendai Maredza, who is also a member of the tournament’s organising committee, expressed confidence that the locals would bag medals, and insisted that focus should be on snatching gold ahead of favourites Egypt.
“We have been training well and have now come up with our final team. Last week we were in South Africa playing friendly matches as a way of exposing our players to the international demands of the sport.
“Definitely, some of the local clubs will get a medal, but what we want is to make sure we surprise Egypt, who are tournament favourites and wrestle gold,” said Maredza.
Apart from Egypt, regional peers Zambia and Malawi as well as Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya have confirmed their participation.
The championships were initially supposed to be held in Nigeria, but hosting rights were transferred to Zimbabwe due to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
