Zim end matches on losing note

Sports Reporter—

ZIMBABWE wrapped up their Pool A matches at the ongoing Hockey Junior World Cup on a losing note when they lost 0-13 to defending champions Netherlands on Sunday in Santiago, Chile.It was their biggest loss after losing 0-10 to USA and 0-6 to Korea last week.

Sixteen countries are taking part in the tournament and the top two in the four pools qualify for the quarter-finals.

And Zimbabwe will not be among those teams as they finished on the bottom of their pool with no points.

Netherlands top Pool A with nine points and will be joined by United States in the last eight with six points.

It was always going to be difficult for Zimbabwe, who first qualified for the tournament in 2005, and they had to wait for more than a decade to qualify for the event.

The team’s fitness coach, Jenna Palmer, said if they are to match the standards at such international competition there is need for exposure.

“If there is one thing that we have learnt from this tournament is that we are a fighting team that never gives up.

“We have seen that we need to be having more exposure to international tournaments like this. And have more opportunity to play against teams of this calibre as the girls are going from strength to strength just within this tournament over the last week,” said Palmer.

Zimbabwe are one of the two African countries that qualified for the Junior World Cup, with South Africa taking the other spot.

Zimbabwe are now set to take part in the pool crossover games for placement.

In 2005 they settled for position 16 as they found the going tough.