adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE Hockey Association of Zimbabwe will next week hold a coaching clinic for graded coaches and their Youth Olympic Games squads at Arundel High School grounds in Harare.The coaching clinic is being funded and organised by the International Hockey Federation while the national association will cater for instructor’s expenses while he is in the country.
It will be conducted by Gijs Hardeman from Holland.
Hardeman is expected in the country on Sunday and the coaching clinic will start on August 26 with graded coaches expected to participate until August 28. From August 29 to 31, he will be working with the Youth Olympic Games squads and the coaching staff.
The Games will be held next year in Nanjing, China, in August.
HAZ vice-president, Humphrey Chigwedere, said the clinic was an opportunity for participants to learn new trends of the sport as the national association hopes to continue improving the sport and maintain international standards. They also want to prepare their Youth Olympic Games teams.
Zimbabwe will be hoping to qualify for the Games to be held next Augus in Nanjing, China.
“We have been awarded an opportunity to have a high performance coach from Holland for seven days working with some of our national graded coaches.
“In our database we have 29 graded coaches and we are looking forward to have the majority of these coaches attending. “FIH is funding and facilitating the coaching clinic while the national association is taking care of the delegate whilst he is in the country.
“We feel that this clinic will assist our coaches to catch up with the latest trends in hockey especially given that the instructor is coming from Holland, one of the world power houses in hockey,” said Chigwedere.
Last year, Matabeleland Hockey Board had the opportunity to host a coaching and umpiring clinic ahead of the African Cup Club Championships at Khumalo Stadium.
It was conducted by top South African and FIH coach, Lindsay Wright.
Meanwhile, the national association will have their annual meeting on September 6 in Bulawayo to discuss various issues pertaining to the sport.
Online Reporter