Tanzania representatives to the African Hockey Club Championship have been urged to start early preparations in order to perform well in the prestigious event slated for later this year.
The Tanzania Hockey Association (THA) secretary Kaushik Doshi told the ‘Daily News’ from Tanga on Thursday that after missing the African premium club championship for several years they need to prepare well to be in contention.
He said for the first time two men’s and one ladies’ team will represent the country in the championship to be held either in November, or December at a venue to be known later.
“Dar Khalsa and Magereza men’s teams and Tanzania Twende ladies will represent the country in the African Club Championship to be held in November or December,” he said.
“I’ve asked them to start preparations now,” he added. Tanzanian teams, especially men’s, have missed out on the Africa Hockey Federation (AHF)-organized tournaments due to several reasons, including financial constraints.
Tanzania Twende were the only team from Tanzania that took part in the continental championship in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe last November.
Dar Khalsa and Magareza won tickets to the African Club Championship after emerging champions and runners-up respectively at the Mapinduzi Cup, also known as national club championship, held in Dar es Salaam amidst rain over the weekend.
“The rain created a big havoc to the tournament which involved six teams. We had to remove from the fixture formality matches at the last minute to accommodate other important ones,” Doshi said.
The organisers decided to shift the finals to Ukonga Ground from the water-logged Lugalo Barracks Ground. The final match kept the supporters on their toes throughout as both teams displayed classic stick-work from quality players, mostly locals.
Magereza’s Musa Edward opened the score in the 18th minute only for Dar Khalsa to level matters two minutes later through Franko Yoningom. Edward got into the score sheet again in the 22nd and 30th minutes to earn a hat-trick.
Dar Khalsa replied with goals in 33rd and 34th minutes through Frank Essikuri to force the scoreboard to read 3-3 at the breather.
The second half started vigorously and both teams fought desperately to break the stalemate but the organisers decided to end the game prematurely due to bad lights.
A penalty shootout was applied to determine the winner and Dar Khalsa converted all their five penalties, while Magereza managed only four. Edward was voted the best player of the tournament sponsored by Reliance Insurance Co and R.K Trucking Co, both of Dar es Salaam.
By MBONILE BURTON, Tanzania Daily News