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The Herald, August 30, 1980
ZIMBABWE’S men hockey team did everything right on Thursday to trounce the West German champions 2-0.
Zimbabwe led the game against Schwarz-Weiss of Cologne 1-0 at half time, with Chris Trautmann having scored from a penalty stroke in the 24th minute following a short corner infringement.
Gerald Peckover brought off a brilliant shot from a long corner in the 41st minute to nail home the victory.
“This certainly was our best performance of the tour so far,” said the manager Graham Vaughan.
“This gives the team a lot more confidence, particularly after Wednesday’s game, when we tied three-all after having been up three-one.
“We did miss two further chances, both of them difficult, but there was no doubt that Zimbabwe thoroughly deserved the 2-0 win.”
The game was played on a good natural grass surface which, despite dry sunny weather, was described by Vaughan as “very heavy”.
Although Vaughan described the victory as a team effort, he nevertheless singled out several players for extra praise. David Houghton at goal made three excellent saves.
Brian Fraser and Mark Wyness performed soundly as backs, as did Peter Hogg, playing his first game at left-half.
Captain Peter Rawson had an outstanding game as did Andy Cowan. The forward line finally hit its stride, with Gerald Peckover and Chris Trautmann, the two scorers, enjoying first class support from the other three, David Muir, Ray du Plooy and Darrol McRoberts.
The team left by coach for Paris yesterday. They meet the French national junior team today and an international against France tomorrow.
Of the one practice and three formal games of the tour so far, Zimbabwe we have won two and drawn two.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
- Zimbabwe is very passionate about sports and continues to have a lot of potential to excel on the grand stage with better management in the sporting disciplines and corporate support.
- Sporting disciplines such as cricket have in the past managed to get sponsorship, which greatly improved the way the game is played in the country.
- There is need to open up the so-called minority sports such as hockey to ensure that it is played across the country so that we have a large pool of players to select our national teams from.
- This will ensure that the country will reclaim its place amongst the leading hockey playing nations as it did when the Golden Girls, the Zimbabwe women’s field hockey team, struck gold at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, Russia.
- There is always strength in teamwork. People who work or play as a team are united and tend to achieve much more than people that are divided.
- Most often, when one wants to measure where they are, they have to go up against the best hence the saying: “To be the best, you have to beat the best”.
Online Reporter