tawandamusarurwa
Evelyn Matimbire
Sports Reporter
IN a perfect world, Brad Heuer would have gone to Egypt for the Junior Africa Cup with most, if not all, of his Zimbabwe Under-21 hockey players boasting a couple of caps for the senior side.
“The girls should already be in the Zimbabwe ladies’ setup,” Heuer said.
“It is something which we are working towards, but for some reason, it really hasn’t happened yet.”
As Zimbabwe prepare for the World Cup in Santiago, Chile, in December, only a handful from the current squad will still be around to give it a go at the junior tourney.
One such player is Athina Mujiba.
The 20-year-old is in her final year with the side.
She has already made clear her intentions to represent the country at senior level.
“My goal is to one day play for the Zimbabwe senior women’s team.
“It’s every sportsperson’s dream, and I will get there eventually,” Mujiba said.
Her Zimbabwe Under-21 coach is fully behind her.
“She has to start training with the senior ladies, getting more involved with them, otherwise she will just keep playing club hockey like in the Harare league for years to come,” he said.
Heuer was full of praise for Mujiba’s exploits in Egypt, where her industry in midfield was instrumental in earning Zimbabwe the ticket to the Hockey Junior World Cup.
“I first coached Athina when she was in the Zimbabwe Under-16 team, and it must have been some five or six years ago.
“The way she has grown and improved is just incredible,” he said.
“She has met and exceeded all my expectations and turned out to be a physically strong player, who plays and excels in the middle of the park.
“She did really well in Egypt.”
For Mujiba, the World Cup fittingly provides the ideal stage for a last dance with the Under-21 team.
Like every other athlete, the hockey player’s career was at some point affected by Covid-19.
“Every time, l think about my hockey career. I can’t help but blame the coronavirus for taking away two years of hockey.
“I missed out on a lot of hockey games . . .
“I think I have participated in at least 21 tournaments or more — including school tournaments, club tournaments and Zimbabwe hockey tournaments at age-group level.
“However, it could have been more had it not been for the virus,” she said.
The Hippo Hockey Club player views it more as a learning curve.
She has since grown mentally, physically and emotionally.
“It seems fun to be able to grab a hockey stick again and play for the sheer enjoyment of the sport,” she said.
“It takes a lot for you to reach that elite point, which you will need to put in the hard work, time, patience, effort, commitment, courage, self-discipline and determination.
“These are some of the lessons I have learnt over the years.”
While the trip to Chile is still some months away, Mujiba has already started to put in the work to ensure she is primed and ready to give it the good old college try.
Twitter: @matimbireevelyn
Online Reporter