Rain forced Mapinduzi Cup hockey championship matches scheduled for Saturday at Lugalo Barracks Ground in Dar es Salaam to be postponed to Sunday.
The Dar es Salaam Regional Hockey Association (DRHA) secretary Mnonda Magani, told the ‘Sunday News’ four group matches were to be played on Saturday but were washed away by rain.
“A heavy downpour left the water-logged and impossible to host a match but we hope all four matches will be played tomorrow morning,” he said.
“Everything was well and all six participating teams turned up at the venue, but we had no other choice than to postpone the matches,” he added.
Teams battling it out for top honour include last year’s finalists Dar Khalsa, Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) men’s and ladies, Magereza, University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and Tanzania Twende ladies.
Magani, who is also the Tanzania Hockey Association (THA) assistant secretary, said that due to the latest changes, the four group matches will be played in the morning before the semi-finals, while the final will be held later.
The tournament, known as national club championship, successfully opened on Friday with two matches. In the opening match Magereza gave debutant TPDF ladies a bitter welcome to the league after defeating them 14-0.
Other newcomers UDSM started with a 1-0 win over Tanzania Twende ladies in a tough match. In this morning’s Group A matches, Dar Khalsa will face TPDF ladies in their first match before taking on tough Magereza in the afternoon.
Tanzania Twende ladies will play their Group B second match against TPDF men’s before their opponent face UDSM.
Winners and runners-up in each group will advance to the semi-finals to be played in the afternoon, 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.
By MBONILE BURTON, Tanzania Daily News