Behold, high standards that make Khumalo Stadium shine

Zimbabwean clubs have not been exceptional in the ongoing Africa Hockey Cup of Club Championships (ACCC) taking place at Khumalo Hockey Stadium in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. But the high quality of their hockey pitch indicates their commitment to the sport.

Khumalo is a high standard hockey stadium that has two grounds. The main AstroTurf stadium is a 10, 000-seater that also has a sand-based training pitch, which is equally good and has hosted high profile matches. Built in 1995 when it hosted All Africa Games, it was refurbished in 2011 prior to the Olympic qualifiers. The stadium boasts an automatic watering system, unlike our City Park Stadium, which is watered manually, remaining soggy moments later, Khumalo is the opposite. It is in perfect condition and one can not tell if it has been watered or not! Quite smooth you must say and it has powerful floodlights to boot, which illuminate as far as three kilometres away. Now that is your ideal stadium there.

While Kenya has only one AstroTurf hockey pitch, Zimbabwe boasts another pitch of the same standards; Magamba Hockey Stadium in Harare. Hockey Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Vice Chair Humphrey Chigwedere revealed plans were underway to revamp Magamba.

Both Bulawayo and Magamba are maintained by the government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Local Governments.According to Chigwedere, HAZ and the government will renovate Magamba because they want to host more high profile continental tournaments.

He added that their long-term goals are to build such stadiums in all 10 Zimbabwean provinces.

“We want to have at least one high standard hockey pitch in every province.”

FAME: Hockey has become very popular in Nigeria

The Nigerian government has invested heavily in hockey and their efforts have paid off as it has turned out to be a very popular sport in the country. The West African country boasts five modern AstroTurf hockey pitches. Four are water-based, while the fourth is sand-based. Nigeria Hockey Federation also runs different hockey tournaments regularly in addition to the country’s league. They have put together a national police team and nine other police teams from different regions. They also organise tournaments for the under-16 and 21 in order to develop players and make sure the country does not run out of hockey talent.

—Compiled by Elizabeth Mburugu

LUCK: Hosts Bulawayo trounce Shams to snatch last four slot

Hosts Bulawayo Athletics Club (BAC) put up a fight in their last Pool A match trouncing Shams of Egypt 8-0 to secure a spot in the last four. The hosts scored the deciding goal with seconds left to lock giants Heartlands of Nigeria out of the top four owing to a superior goal advantage. Both teams were level with two wins, a draw and a loss and they scored 21 goals each at the group stage. But BAC carried the day on a superior goal difference as they had conceded six goals while former champions Heartlands conceded seven. BAC will now lock horns with top team in pool B for a finals spot. 

DETERMINATION: TZ team starts four-day road trip to Dar

Nothing beats the zeal and determination of Tanzanian hockey girls, Twende. It didn’t matter how long it would take to be at these games. Not even the four-day road trip to Zimbabwe could deter them from taking part in the Africa Cup of Club championships. After a not so successful run though, they are back on the road, this time heading home. Rose Hamis Gasper told FeverPitch they may have lost all their matches, but did not leave empty-handed as they gained experience. “It’s been a learning journey for us, we are a young team and these events give us a chance to learn new skills from experienced players.” The Tanzanians will now shift focus to the continental qualifiers for the 2016 Rio Olympics.