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Nhlanhla Mbele
THE Zimbabwe national men’s hockey team has begun preparations for the Africa Olympic Qualifiers to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, in August.
The qualifiers will run from 12 to 18 August meaning the Zimbabwean side is left with eight weeks before they plunge into battle that will see them take on Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda and Nigeria in the process seeking passage to the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
“We have started to intensely prepare for the Africa Olympic Qualifiers. We are looking forward to doing well as doing well at the qualifiers will also see us book a berth at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Top two teams at the Africa Olympics Qualifiers will proceed to Tokyo,” said Zimbabwe men’s hockey team head coach Tongai Mukwewa.
Last weekend, the hockey squad trained at Bulawayo’s Hockey Stadium which they combined with a fundraising initiative that coincided with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Olympic hockey day celebrations that were organised by Matabeleland Hockey Board (MHB).
The funds raised from the event went towards the National Men Hockey Road to Tokyo Olympic preparations.
Zimbabwe was first represented at the Olympics when the senior ladies team took part at the 1980 Moscow Olympics where they won a gold medal.
This remains one of the pinnacles of sporting achievements for the country that future hockey squads could use as a source of inspiration.
Online Reporter