Hockey federation distressed

…Team to travel for Olympic qualifiers in South Africa by bus to avoid ban 

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

THE men’s and women’s hockey team are set to travel to South Africa by a bus for the crucial 2024 Paris Olympic qualifiers set to kick off on October 29 to November 5, 2023 in Pretoria.

The Hockey Association has also expressed shock that the Ministry of Sports has u-turned on its earlier pledge to support the association with accommodation fees by choosing to help the teams with a bus which will drive the two teams to South Africa.

The association has appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema to come to its aid and help raise the K460, 000 needed to cover accommodation costs during the teams stay in South Africa.

Hockey Association president Hazel Kennedy said it will be disappointing for the country if the team fail to travel for the qualifiers after the association and the players put in a lot of work and effort to prepare.

Kennedy said failure to participate at the qualifiers will attract a K225, 000 fine and a possible two-year ban from all international engagements.

“For the two teams (Men’s and Women’s) and officials for 11 days, the association is looking for K460, 000 to cover costs associated with accommodation and food.

“We are making a distress call to the President of the Republic of Zambia and the corporate world to come to the aid of the two teams to help with covering the accommodation costs while they represent the country in the qualifiers of the Paris 2022 Olympics,” Kennedy said. 

Kennedy is saddened that the National Sports Council of Zambia has failed to offer strategic intervention over challenges faced by the Hockey Association.

“We feel Sports Council is absent especially when we need them the most,” Kennedy said.

Meanwhile Ministry of Sports, Youth and Arts Permanent Secretary ‎Kangwa Chileshe said this year has been challenging financially due to the hosting of the CAA games with ZA, FIFA women’s World Cup and the renovation of two stadiums which were banned by CAF.

“Last year we fully funded most associations and federations including paying allowances. We made it very clear last year that this year we could only do partial sponsorship as government. We continue to urge the private sector to partner with government and mitigate some of these challenges,” Chileshe said.

Chileshe said the ministry has exhausted its regional and international budget and has mainly been supporting transport in terms of booking buses and purchasing of air tickets and a few logistics. 

He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to continue to make efforts to assist sports federations in Zambia.