Sports are Recreation Commission (SRC) director-general Charles Nhemachena has applauded the national youth hockey teams that are in Zambia for the African Youth Olympic qualifiers for their performance at the games.
Fortune Mbele Sports Reporter
Nhemachena praised the Under-17 girls and boys’ teams, but was quick to point out that a lot has to be done to up the standard of the game in the country. Both teams lost their crucial matches on Thursday with the boys losing 2-7 to Kenya while the girls narrowly fell 2-4 to hosts Zambia.
Both sides have failed to make it to represent Africa in China in August.
The boys played their last match on Thursday while the girls lost 2-6 to Zambia in the fight for bronze yesterday.
“The boys and girls should be commended for their effort. It is, however, clear that as a country, we have a lot of homework to raise standards so as to become much more competitive,” Nhemachena said after getting the Thursday results.
The Zimbabwean girls ended the round robin tournament on the fourth spot with three points after edging Kenya who lost all their matches in the group stages.
South Africa and Namibia head to Nanjing, China for the Youth Olympics in August and were due to fight it out for gold yesterday. On the boys’ section, surprise Zambia are on their way to China with South Africa after emerging second in the round robin tournament and the two were due to battle it out for gold yesterday.
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Kenya and Namibia were due to contest for bronze yesterday.
Hockey Association of Zimbabwe vice-president Humprey Chigwedere, has also applauded the girls’ team, which he said had done exceptionally well in the qualifiers, despite failing to qualify for China.
