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Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’s men and women hockey teams are hopeful as they take to the field in the African Hockey Road to Paris 2024 (Men/Women) Qualifiers in Pretoria, South Africa.
The tournament bursts into life tomorrow at the University of Pretoria with eight men’s and seven women’s teams competing. It runs until November 5.
The national men and women’s teams left for South Africa yesterday morning.
Participating teams have been placed in two Pools of four in the men’s section and for women, the other Pool is made up of three teams.
In the men’s competition, Zimbabwe will face South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda in Pool A. Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia will compete in Pool B.
In the women’s competition, Zimbabwe are up against South Africa and Nigeria. Pool B is made up of Ghana, Kenya, Namibia and Zambia.
Zimbabwe face South Africa, who are the top-ranked team at the tournament tomorrow, in both categories.
Speaking before their departure, Zimbabwe women’s team coach Bhavik Chauhan said they were hoping for a good start in the Pool stages, which will give them a chance to fight for qualification.
“The preparations for Sunday have been great. The players have been working extremely hard and are excited to be playing South Africa.
“We are extremely optimistic about qualifying into the knockout stage and from there hope to kick on.
“All teams at the tournament are good, so we will need to be disciplined to achieve success,” said Chauhan.
The top two teams in each Pool will progress to the semi-finals, while the rest of the teams compete in position classification matches. The winners of the tournament from each category secure their place at the Olympic Games.
The team that finishes as the runner-up in the men’s competition will get a second opportunity to qualify for the Olympics at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024.
The men’s team was in Bulawayo, training at Khumalo Hockey stadium for the final phase of their preparation.
And coach Tongai Mukwewa said their opening game against South Africa will be key in setting the tone for the rest of the tournament.
“That’s the point it sets the tone for the rest of the tournament because we want a podium position. For us to qualify for Paris we have to finish in the top two that will give us a chance for qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
“So that first game is crucial for us to be able to progress because the next two games, we play Uganda and then we play Nigeria. “From a technical side I think well these are the best sort of 18 players in Zimbabwe, so the technical ability is high already. “So it was now to bring that high level of technical ability and make a tactically sound unit which is what I think we have managed to achieve.
South Africa have been dominating the Olympic qualifiers over the years. Their men’s have been the consecutive winners of the seven previous African Hockey Olympic qualifiers and women winning consecutively as well the six previous tournaments.
A total of 12 teams, in each of the men’s and women’s categories will compete in hockey at the Olympic Games.
France being the hosts, gained direct qualification. The other countries that have so far qualified are Australia (men and women), Netherlands (men and women), India (men), China (women).
Pools
Men
Pool A: South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Uganda.
Pool B: Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia.
Women
Pool A: South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe.
Pool B: Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Zambia.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter