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Ellina Mhlanga Harare Bureau
THE Hockey Association of Zimbabwe began their preparations for the Africa Junior Cup last week with the technical teams for the national Under-21 sides holding trials at Arundel School in Harare.

The trials were conducted on Friday and Saturday and the men’s provisional squad is now in place while the women’s will be named at the end of this month.

The continental event is set for March 18 to 28 in Windhoek, Namibia and is a qualifier for the Hockey Junior World Cup to be held later this year in India and Chile.

Only two countries from each section will progress to the global event.

A 26-member provisional squad for the men’s side made up of local players was selected over the weekend and assistant coach, Prince Mwale, said they are also monitoring some foreign-based players they are considering for their squad.

“This is only for local based players. We’ve two or three foreign based players and we’re currently tracking their progress with their coaches.

“We’ll continue to monitor them until we announce the final side thereafter the management and coaching team will make a decision on them.

“From herein on we’re looking at strengthening the side and building relationships. We’re hoping to have a few friendlies in late February against Zambia, Malawi and South Africa men’s A development side as part of the preparations for the tournament.

“Finances continue to be the major hindrance for the side and we’re hoping to get a few corporates on board to fund the team for the preparations and especially for the tournament,” said Mwale.

HAZ president, Humphrey Chigwedere, said the women’s technical team has indicated that they will announce their provisional squad at the end of this month.

“For the ladies it’s still open until end of January, we still have more practices and they’re afraid that if they announce the squad now they might be sort of shutting the door on other players that are eligible.

“It’s off-season, so they’ll just wait until end of January and then announce the squad,” said Chigwedere.

Meanwhile, Chigwedere said the national association will hold an executive meeting this Saturday in Harare to discuss various issues including the preparations for the Africa Junior Cup.

“We’re meeting as an executive on Saturday. On top of the agenda is the Under-21 preparations. We’ll also be looking at the calendar, we’ve drawn up our calendar but we also have schools involved so we’re waiting for the schools so that we can come up with the final calendar.

“Prior to the executive meeting we’ll have a special executive meeting on the same day in the morning.

“We’re going to be discussing the issue of the amendment and re-aligning of our constitution with the African Hockey Federation and the International Federation statutes. Then in the executive meeting we’ll discuss our finances.

“For the special meeting it’s just the executive committee members, legal and disciplinary commission that will attend and for the executive meeting it will be the full executive and we’ve invited schools. We feel they’re our stakeholders,” said Chigwedere.

Men’s provisional squad

Isheanesu Marima, Tinotenda Chitambo, Moses Kapanga, Kudzai Chimbetete, Pemberai Mafi, Forbes Motsi, Tinotendaishe Muzamwese, Alexander Makuvise, Takunda Ndlovu, Nevil Gora, Tafadzwa Zimuto, Johnson Mhlanga, Newton Mashanyare, Tatenda Mabayah, Gift Chomunorwa, Esau Mufandaedza, Misheck Zvizhinji, Philip Machaya, Happious Njitimani, Takunda Chipuma, Simba Mudzvova, Dale Van Aarde, Gerald Nteledzi, Connie Muchono, Bryn Lowe, Dominic Ashley.