National hockey teams in SA

Geophrey Sifani Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe men’s and women’s national hockey teams have arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the African Olympic qualifiers that will run from tomorrow to November 1.

The men’s team was the first to leave on Monday followed by the women’s side on Tuesday.

Colin Williams, the men’s coach, said it was going to be a tough tournament as they have to depend only on their practice sessions since there is no national league to broaden the selection pool.

The tournament formalities got underway yesterday with teams’ registration, kit and passport checks, as well as accreditation of players and officials.

The Zimbabwe women’s team will take on Tanzania tomorrow afternoon, while their male compatriots clash against the hosts South Africa in the evening. The men will then play Namibia on October 26, Botswana on the following day and Ghana on October 29.

The women’s side will play against Kenya on Monday, South Africa, Namibia on Thursday and Nigeria on Friday.

South Africa are the favourites in both the men’s and women’s events, but Egypt, Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria are also serious contenders for the tournament.

Winners of the men’s and women’s tournaments will automatically qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Zimbabwe had pulled out of the qualifiers, which had initially been scheduled for Egypt, due to prohibitive travelling costs, but that changed when the qualifiers were shifted to South Africa.

Teams

Men: Arnold Mpofu, Cydreck Starch, Dominic Ashley, Donald Mutupo, Edwin Tholanah, Matthew Williams, Takudzwa Mangwenedeza, Michael Richards, Neil Davidson, Peter Trethowan, Pritchard Matambo, Ranga Mungwiniri, Rowland Rixon-Fuller, Takudzwa Chipuma, Tapiwa Mafi, Tendayi Maredza(captain), Tinavo Mushavi, Warwick Ulrich

Women: Jordyn Clipstone, Jaime Haasbroek, Sarah Evans, Jenna Palmer, Stephanie Campbell, Kelly Kaulback, Aimee Nativel, Chantelle Zietsman, Jessica Dollar, Jessica Hilton Barber, Audrey Mangwende, Roxy Viviers, Michelle Williams, Simone Karim, Michelle Mullins, Kelly Diplock, Iman Johnson