HOCKEY — THE country’s young hockey players are gaining valuable international exposure as they test themselves against some of the region’s emerging talent at the Zimbabwe Junior Hockey Series in Harare.
The Eswatini hockey youth team arrived safely in Zimbabwe yesterday to compete in the fourth edition of the tournament, which brings together junior teams from across Southern Africa.
Eswatini Sports and Recreation Council (ESRC) Media Officer Dumisani Ntiwane said the focus was on ensuring the young players made the most of the opportunity while representing the country with pride.
“The expectations are for the team to give their best and represent Eswatini with pride,” Ntiwane said.
He described the tournament as an important platform for developing the country’s young players, particularly because it exposed them to international competition and allows them to measure themselves against some of the region’s top junior players.
Ntiwane said the tournament was not solely about results, but also about giving the players valuable match experience and lessons that could benefit the national team in the future.
“We want the players to learn from every match, gain confidence and understand what is required to compete at this level,” he said.
The fourth edition of the Zimbabwe Junior Hockey Series is being held in Harare from August 11 to Sunday, featuring Under-13, Under-16 and Under-18 age groups.
The tournament has attracted 20 international teams and 12 Zimbabwean teams, with approximately 590 players participating.
Teams from Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Eswatini and South Africa are competing in what has become one of the region’s major junior hockey tournaments.
For Eswatini, the competition offers an important opportunity for emerging players to gain experience against opposition from countries with established hockey development programmes.
Ntiwane urged the team to approach their remaining matches with determination while making the most of the learning experience.
“We wish the entire team all the best as they continue with the tournament. They must play with passion and determination but most importantly, they must enjoy the experience and take every opportunity to learn,” he said.
The tournament is expected to provide a valuable benchmark for Eswatini’s junior hockey development, with the players’ performances likely to give coaches important insight into the country’s future talent pipeline.
