By MICHAEL MIYOBA
ZAMBIA Hockey women’s national team coach Floyd Chomba has set qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as the team regroups to prepare for the Olympic Qualifiers.
The Paris Olympic qualifiers will be held in Johannesburg from October 29 to November 5, 2023 and Zambia is expected to take on Egypt, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia and the hosts South Africa.
Chomba said the team’s dream is to do better and impress at the qualifiers in South Africa to realise their long awaited dream of competing at the senior Olympic Games.
Chomba said the fact that team and most of the players have been at the youth Olympics give the squad the confidence needed to compete.
Chomba said Zambia will face Zimbabwe in an international friendly match scheduled for later this month to prepare for the Olympics qualifiers.
“It’s very important that we qualify for the Olympic Games. We have a game against Zimbabwe because it will help us rise on the rankings depending on the results and this will show how we will do in August,” Chomba said
“This is a big dream, this is a dream for everyone because we all want to go to the Olympics. We have been at the youth Olympics before and this is a big dream and we want to be there.”
Asked if his team was under pressure going to the Olympic qualifiers as one of the best in the region, Chomba said; “We don’t underrate anyone despite knowing that the advantage is on our side. We have seven teams to compete with some ranked better than us but we are in form.”
He added South Africa Will be the team to beat if Zambia is to achieve its target of qualifying for the Olympic Games.
Earlier, Chomba unveiled a 26-member female squad who will fly Zambia’s flag at the Olympic Qualifiers in South Africa.
Chomba summoned almost all the stars that won Silver at the Africa Hockey Five championship in Egypt and qualified for the 2024 Oman Hockey Five World Cup.
The Golden Girls will have to see off hosts South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana for the one direct slot allocated to Africa for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
