The Dar es Salaam Regional Hockey Association (DRHA) has called on fans to come forward in big number to cheer up this year’s Mapinduzi Cup hockey tournament at the Lugalo Barracks Ground in Dar es Salaam.
“I appeal to Dar es Salaam sports fans to come and witness our prestigious tournament in which two ladies teams are battling it out against four men’s sides,” DRHA secretary Mnonda Magani said on Friday.
The six-team tournament which started on Friday has been organised jointly by DRHA and the Tanzania Hockey Association (THA). Four matches will be played today. The participating teams have been placed in two groups – A and B.
The tournament, also known as the national club championship, ends on Sunday. Last year’s finalists Dar Khalsa and Tanzania Twende Ladies play two matches each.
In the morning, Group A teams Dar Khalsa will face debutants Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) Ladies in their first match before taking on tough Magereza in the evening.
It will be TPDF Ladies’ last group match that will determine their fate in the league. They were in action against Magereza rday evening.
Tanzania Twende Ladies will open their Group B campaign against University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), who are also making their maiden appearance in the league.
Their second match will be against TPDF men’s who will play their final group match after Friday’s fixture against UDSM.
Magani, who is also TPDF coach, said the winners and runners-up in each group will advance to the semi-finals to be played on Sunday morning, while the final will take place in the evening.
This year’s tournament is sponsored by two Dar es Salaam-based firms — Reliance Insurance Company and R.K. Trucking Co. Notable absentees are defending champions Moshi Khalsa, who won the title last year, after beating Dar Khalsa 3-0 in the final.