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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
IN another show of confidence in the country’s ability to host international sporting competitions, the 2017 Hockey Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in Zimbabwe. This announcement was made by the president of the African Hockey Federation (AfHF), Seif Ahmed, when he paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa, at his Bulawayo offices yesterday morning.

Ahmed, an Egyptian, was accompanied by the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) president Mark Manolios and executive member Gavin Stephens.

“Our meeting with the Minister was very fruitful indeed and I’m satisfied. The Minister agreed that in the near future, there’ll be an artificial turf at Magamba Hockey Stadium in Harare and I told him that if that happens, the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations will definitely come to Zimbabwe,” said Ahmed.

The 2017 tournament is also a qualifying event for the hockey World Cup the following year.

Ahmed also officially invited Minister Langa to the 2015 Africa qualifying tournament for the Olympics which his country (Egpyt) will play host to. Zimbabwe is expected to send two teams,a men and a women’s team.

In his response, Minister Langa said he would do everything in his power to make sure Magamba Stadium is resurfaced so that the sporting community continues to have trust in the country.

“We’ve no reason not to support such gestures, our aim as a Ministry is to make sure that we’ve stadiums that can host international events in every part of the country,” said Minister Langa who was flanked by his permanent secretary Thokozile Chitepo.

This comes at a time Zimbabwe is playing host to three international tournaments, the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games which roar to life next Friday, the Africa Cup of Club Champions (ACCC) which got underway on November 22 in Bulawayo and the Confederation of African Rugby Sevens tournament in Harare.

The Region 5 Games will see 10 countries competing while seven are taking part in the Africa Cup of Club Champions.