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HIPPO player/coach Tendayi Maredza doesn’t regret switching from cricket to hockey.
Brighton Zhawi – Sports Reporter
At only 24, Maredza has achieved a lot in the sport although the financial returns have been minimal.
Last week he led his side to the Harare Indoor League title and continues to dream big despite a tough operating environment.
For Maredza passion is key.
“I just have passion for sport,” he said. “To be honest, lack of funding is hindering everything. The glory days will not return without an improvement in funding, but until that happens passion has to keep us going. We have the talent but the issue of funding is crippling us.”
Maredza was voted the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe 2014 Player of the Year after finishing the season as the indoor top scorer with 31 goals.
He plays as a striker in the indoor format while he does business as a midfielder in outdoor hockey.
But which format does he prefer?
“That’s a tough one,” he muses. “I like both, I have had more success in outdoor though, where I play as a striker.”
With funding constraints being the order of the day in hockey, one would expect Maredza to regret the day he walked away from cricket to pick up a hockey stick.
“I don’t regret switching to hockey, I loved cricket, but I also love hockey. A lot of people think I made a wrong choice, but I don’t think so.
“I started playing hockey at Churchill High School in 2003. I was a good cricket player but then saw guys playing hockey one day and got interested in the sport.
“I made it into the first team when I was in Form Three then, went on to captain the team in 2008.
“I represented Mashonaland Province and coached the Churchill first team after I left school,” said Maredza.
With the league title in the bag, Maredza discloses that Hippo are not taking their foot off the gas as they want more success.
“Basically, it’s all about our training, we train hard and have set goals. We have a good structure and base set by (founder) Dr Tongai Mukwewa.
“We strive to maintain our quality and the players are committed. It feels great to lead a team that has the drive and passion. It makes my life easy.
“I am proud of the guys, and the girls, it’s a tough job to juggle everything, but at the end it’s worth it,” he said of a Hippos side that has dominated the local scene over the past few seasons.
The club has also fared well at the African Club Championships.
And now the desire to play in a foreign league is also burning in Maredza: “My dream is to play in the Hockey India League.”
Online Reporter