FEMALE HOCKEY PLAYERS ‘REVOLT’

Sun, 29 Oct 2017 12:03:01 +0000

By Grace Chaile Lesoetsa

THE Zambia hockey technical bench is facing difficulties to convince female players to continue with the sport following the national team’s failure to compete at the Egypt 2017 Africa Cup for Nations tournament.

Despite qualifying for the tournament hosted last week, the men and women national teams painfully missed out after failing to raise K300, 000 for air tickets.

Stand-in coach for the women team, Floyd Chomba said the team’s failure to compete at the event has affected the female players who are contemplating quitting hockey.

Chomba said the technical bench was at pains trying to counsel the players not to quit hockey.

“The reaction from the female players since the failed trip to Egypt has been negative. Most of them have stated that they will abandon hockey as there was not motivation,” he said.

He said the call for increased girls and women participation could not be achieved if they are not supported and motivated despite putting in their best in preparations.

“Women have the potential to bring glory to mother Zambia, but they are not supported and hence their talent is wasted. I hope the business community and government will consider investing more in women sports,” Chomba said.