admin
Ellina Mhlanga-Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S Under-21 women’s hockey team got their campaign at the ongoing FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup underway on a positive note when they beat Canada 2-1 in Pool A in Potchefstroom, South Africa yesterday.
Zimbabwe’s goals came from Alexi Terblanche and Lillian Pope in the first half to pick their first three points.
Canada’s Janna Goodman scored their only goal in the second half. However, the 2-0 lead by Zimbabwe in the first half was good enough to see them emerging victors yesterday.
They went into the match as the underdogs with Canada ranked 13th in the world while Zimbabwe are ranked 54th.
The victory also saw the junior team writing their own piece of history as they won their first ever game at the Junior World Cup.
Coach Tendayi Maredza commended his side for their spirited and attributed the success yesterday to team work.
“Well it was a good team performance. Everyone played well, everyone fought for each other. It was a great game, we started off well obviously there is still room for improvement but yes good team performance.
“It’s always crucial to win your first match. Obviously our plan is to progress into the quarter-finals and this is a good step in achieving that objective. So it’s always crucial to win the first match,” said Maredza.
In the other Pool A matches Netherlands beat the United States 9-0.
Netherlands occupies their first position in Pool A on superior goal different. Zimbabwe are second after both teams won their opening matches.
Zimbabwe’s next game is against the United States this afternoon. They will be hoping to carry their form yesterday into this game as they seek to finish in the top two in their pool to progress to the quarter finals.
Maredza said they just need to work on a few mistakes in their opening game and hope for another positive result.
But they know it’s not going to be an easy game.
“We are just going to approach it the same way. Obviously we just need to be disciplined more, just work on a few things, making sure that we have got all bases covered. But discipline is going to be key in tomorrow’s game and hopefully we can come out with a win.
“We hope to play well, same way we did and just fix on the mistakes that we did, work on our discipline. I think we will come out as victors,” said Maredza.
Zimbabwe’s last Pool game is on Monday against Netherlands.
The tournament is running until April 12 with 16 countries that have been grouped into four Pools competing.
Online Reporter