A different kind of headache

Wellington Makasi
FINANCIAL contraints usually provide the soundtrack to the country’s preparations for major sporting events but the Zimbabwe Under -21 hockey team are facing a peculiar headache. Just how do they prepare for the Junior World Cup in Chile later this year when only four of the 18 selected players are locally based? Meghan Shaxson, SimoneMarchussen (both Peterhouse), Cheryl Dzapasi (Chisipite) and Kelly Diplock (Gateway) are based in Zimbabwe.

The rest are scattered across South Africa, England, Australia and the United States where they are studying. Hockey Association of Zimbabwe president Humphrey Chigwedere conceded that getting the team ready for the November jamboree was a tough task.

“Obviously it presents us with a massive challenge because getting all the 14 foreign based players in one place is no easy task,” he said. “These players are not professional athletes so it’s impossible for them to be excused from their institutions of learning so that they can come for national team camp. Our best bet is to use the vacation periods to prepare with the players who will be available at any given time.

“Presently we have a number of players who are in the country on holiday until August and the coaches are making the most of such an opportunity.”

Chigwedere revealed that they intend to have their second camp in September while there is a tossup between going to Brazil or Cape Town, South Africa for acclimitisation.

“We need to get our players used to the climatic conditions they will find in Chile and have identified either Brazil or Cape Town for acclimatisation. A final decision will be made soon. However, one or two players will have to fly directly to Santiago because of their academic commitments,” he said.

Meanwhile, the highly-rated Gugulethu Ndlovu looks set to gatecrash her way into the plane to Chile on the back of solid shows in the schools circuit.

“We are also planning to include 16-year-old Gugulethu Ndlovu from Bulawayo in the team because we believe she is the future of Zimbabwean hockey. We believe she will benefit a lot from such an experience,” said Chigwedere.