Low turnout to mar proposed hockey tourney

Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
THE proposed Inter-Provincial Hockey Tournament set for Bulawayo next weekend is likely to be a very low-key event amid indications that only three teams are certain to take part. Khumalo Hockey Stadium is expected to host the inter-pros on August 10 and 11 but only Bulawayo, Harare and Masvingo are making strong indications of fielding teams to what is supposed to be one of the major events on the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe calendar.

HAZ vice-president Humphrey Chigwedere yesterday said Mashonaland Central had pulled out of the event, leaving this year’s inter-provincials to be contested as a tri-tournament.

“We are going to host the inter-provincials at Khumalo and this event is supposed to attract all the provincial teams, but in this case we should be having only three teams.

“Each province is supposed to field a men and women’s team for this competition. Mashonaland Central have pulled out because they cannot raise funds for the trip,” said Chigwedere.

After the inter-pros, Chigwedere said, HAZ will end their field season by holding the HAZ Cup which will coincide with their general meeting on September 7. “The HAZ Cup is also one of our premier events where all the top clubs from each province fight for the national club championship.

“I think Hockey Enthusiastics won from Harare League and Hippo Valley should be coming from Masvingo.
“Because the provinces are not very active, we do not anticipate all provinces to field teams but we should be inviting all stakeholders to a general meeting after the competition.

“The meeting should make headways with regards to our strategic plan for next year. Right now we do not have a strategic plan in operation and that is one reason why we are failing to partner some corporates for our activities.

“We failed to send a team to Kenya for the Africa Cup of Nations and now we have to take stock of our field hockey season.

“Our current problem is that we tend to shy away from public attention, yet we are facing challenges and few people may come to know of our plights,” said Chigwedere.

During the general meeting, elections will not be on the agenda, but the HAZ executive is mandated to co-opt a female player as a representative of the athletes’ commission to replace Prince Mwale, whose term of office is expiring.