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Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter
HOCKEY Association of Zimbabwe president Grant Campbell says they are looking at resuscitating provincial leagues to ensure there is widespread and vibrant competition locally.
Zimbabwe have had some positives with the national teams making some strides including the Under-21 side that competed at the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup in April.
The men’s and women’s senior teams won the Central South Africa qualifier for the African Games over the weekend.
They are through to the continental Games due to take place next year in Ghana.
However, more still needs to be done for the sport in particular ensuring it is not just concentrated in one area and that there are functioning leagues around the country.
Provincial leagues are key in providing the much-needed competition in identifying and developing players that will feed into the national teams.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Central South Africa qualifier for the African Games, Campbell said only Harare currently has a league running.
“So as far as the leagues that’s definitely on the Harare side with the St John’s College turf. The Harare League is very strong, very popular, it’s got a big support of teams.
“We have got a league called the future league with youngsters playing here (at St John’s College) on Saturday afternoons and evenings for the development as well as the various academies training youngsters and developing them.
“Where we are going to have to do a bit of work is in the areas of Bulawayo and Masvingo to help resuscitate those leagues, so it’s (hockey) more widespread,” said Campbell.
He said at the moment clubs from Bulawayo and Masvingo travel to Harare to participate in the league.
The limited facilities have also been an issue and for instance clubs in Harare rely on private facilities since Magamba Hockey Stadium is in a bad state and cannot host games.
The national association is hoping that if they resuscitate the leagues in provinces like Masvingo, the clubs can use Khumalo Hockey Stadium in Bulawayo for their competitions.
“We still have got Khumalo Stadium in Bulawayo, which is a very good facility, which is easy access for Masvingo and that will be our aim for next year.
“But the Harare League and these development leagues have really come in leaps and bounds post-Covid and I think we are seeing the results now in our national teams and Under-21 and Under-18 etcetera.
“Obviously, there is a bigger following of hockey in Harare and this facility (at St John’s College) has assisted in that, having this astro-turf here. But that’s one of our major tasks (resuscitating provincial leagues) as HAZ.
“The Matabeleland board have resuscitated themselves and we are working with them to get some league going there in the future. Obviously, I think the amount of players that they have wanting to play are not nearly as much as in the Harare conference but yes, it is one of our major targets,” said Campbell.
He acknowledged the school system which has proved to be key in the development of junior teams.
“What I am very pleased about is our youngsters are very strong, coming through the schools . . . There is a lot of talent and we try to nurture that and bring them in and blend them.
“We had in our ladies, two Under-18 players that are playing Under-18, Under-21 national and in our men’s team also we have got youngsters,” said Campbell.
The HAZ president said the ultimate goal is to have a national league running but they would need sponsors to come on board for it to be viable taking into account the costs involved.
“If we can get a few sponsors on board and have a national league, it makes the players able to participate without too much burden on their own financial resources, and that is what we are definitely aiming for,” said Campbell.
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