Zimpapers Logo

Descent Dube, Sport Reporter
THE Hockey Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) will tomorrow announce the men and women’s squads for the Hockey Series Open-Africa games to be staged at Khumalo Hockey Stadium in Bulawayo from December 7-9.

The men’s team will compete against Egypt, Namibia and Zambia, while the women’s team faces Namibia and Zambia.

HAZ secretary-general Sarah Bennett said the selectors had been watching players in the just ended hockey season and they are confident Zimbabwe will perform well at the tournament.

“As HAZ we feel we have enough talent available for us to compete and earn valuable world ranking points. We wish to be successful in host an international hockey event ahead of the bidding process for hosting of the Africa Hockey Olympic Qualifiers in 2019,” said Bennett.

The Zimbabwe ladies team is ranked 68th in the world and will be seeking to redeem themselves after being knocked out in the last 16 at the ongoing Youth Olympic Games in Argentina after deadlocking 3-3 against Namibia. Zimbabwe needed a win to go through to the quarter-finals.

Bennett said a local organising committee (LOC) will be set up in the next week to manage logistics and preparations of the tournament.

“The LOC will include members of the press and the SRC whom we have a good working relationship with. Bulawayo has had experience with successfully hosting, not only major national tournaments, but also a number of International Africa Hockey Tournaments, including Africa Olympic Qualifiers (AOQ) in 2010, Africa Cup of Club Champions (ACC) in 2012, Africa Cup of Club Champions (ACC) in 2014,” said Bennett.

She said despite the previous lack of international competition, the association gained vast experience when national teams participated in games in Algeria, Youth Olympic Games in Argentina and played against Namibia and South Africa.

“In all the events the teams gave a good showing of the country’s sportspersons and the potential that exists against much higher ranked nations,” Bennett said.