Online Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Under-21 women’s hockey team has qualified for the Women’s Junior World Cup slated for December 6-17 in Santiago, Chile, after they thrashed Kenya 7-0 in an all-important Junior Africa Cup match in Egypt on Wednesday.
They join neighbours South Africa, who also beat hosts Egypt 11-0 to punch their own ticket.
The win should come as a huge relief for the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe.
The men’s and women’s trips to the Junior Africa Cup appeared to be in doubt as the association struggled to secure the resources needed to send the teams to the continental competition, which doubled as qualifiers for the global showcase.
The women’s team got off to a difficult start when they lost 0-3 to South Africa in their opening game.
However, they bounced back in style with back-to-back victories over the hosts (4-0) and then Kenya (7-0) to clinch one of the two coveted World Cup slots.
Four teams – South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and the hosts Egypt – took part in the tournament.