Hockey in double blow

Muzingaye Ncube Sports Reporter
AS if the decision by the International Hockey Federation to deny Zimbabwe an opportunity to host the World Hockey League qualifiers was not enough, the country’s return to international competition has been dealt another blow amid revelations that HAZ has failed to raise funds to send a team to Nairobi, Kenya.Hockey in the county appeared to have been thrown a lifeline following the renovation of the Khumalo Hockey Stadium in Bulawayo, a project that was anticipated to mark the country’s return to international competitions.

With the nation earmarked to stage the world league qualifiers, the FIH withdrew Zimbabwe’s hosting rights and gave them to Kenya, because the country’s facilities could not meet the required international standards. This was largely due to HAZ’s failure to raise requisite funds to upgrade Magamba Hockey Stadium in Harare.

As if to add insult to injury, the country will not be represented in Kenya because the hockey authorities have failed to raise funds to send teams to Kenya for the first round of the qualifiers in August.

The shocking news were disclosed by HAZ president, Humphrey Chigwedere in a telephone interview last week. He said they had decided as an association against going to the East African country because they were “bankrupt”.

“We thought its best to let go of these games because it is expensive to send teams to Kenya compared to neighbouring countries like South Africa, Zambia and Botswana where teams can go by road which is far much cheaper compared to flying. We also decided that from now on we will only tour the neighbouring countries unless we landed a permanent sponsor,” said Chigwedere.

Once a hockey powerhouse with an impeccable history that was highlighted by the feat of the “Golden Girls” who scooped gold at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Russia, Zimbabwe is now a pale shadow of its former self. The country has in recent years, struggled in most competitions while the youth teams dismally failed to qualify for the summer Olympics to be held in Nanjing, China at a tournament held in Zambia in March this year.

Curiously, the HAZ boss defended the decision not to take part in the qualifiers in Kenya saying it would not have any impact on the growth of the sport in the country as they were embarking on a grassroots programme which was aimed at developing talent from schools level.

“Our absence at the qualifiers would not impact in any way on the growth of the sport in the country because we have a running national league as well as the Harare league will be rolling into action soon. Now we are putting much focus on the grass roots development in schools nationwide,” he said.