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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE senior men and women’s hockey teams have stepped up their preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games qualifiers scheduled for Johannesburg, South Africa, this month.

The qualifiers are set for October 23 to November 1 with 11 men and nine women’s teams expected to compete.

The top teams in each category qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Both teams are working out in groups with some training in Harare while others are in Bulawayo and Chiredzi.

Part of the women’s team in Harare is expected to move a gear up in their preparations when they meet today at Arundel for two practice sessions.

The qualifiers were initially pencilled for Egypt but were later moved to South Africa making it possible for Zimbabwe to take part having withdrawn from the competition as they could not afford to travel to Egypt because of financial problems.

Hockey Association of Zimbabwe vice-president Humphrey Chigwedere said they have to resort to weekend trainings because of resources.

“Ideally we would have wanted to have a week-long camp but because of resources we are not camping.

“The majority of the women are training in Harare while some are training in Bulawayo with the men’s team and those in Harare will have two practice sessions tomorrow (today).

“It’s not the best kind of preparations that we would have wanted. The men’s team will camp in Bulawayo from 17 to 18 and they leave on October 19.

“The dilemma with the tournament is when it was moved (to South Africa) we got it quite late, we had pulled out because it was set for Egypt initially,” said Chigwedere.

Chigwedere pointed out that it was not going to be easy for the Zimbabwean teams with tough competition expected at the qualifiers.

“We understand there are 11 men and nine women’s teams that have entered for the qualifiers but we do not know if they will all make it. Actually today (yesterday) is the deadline to have done all the paperwork.

“If we look at it we can only improve, like the last time we held the qualifiers we didn’t do well in both sections. But you never know each tournament is different.

“If our women play well we have a chance of getting maybe to the finals but for the men it’s tough because we are looking at countries like Egypt, South Africa and Ghana. Kenya and Nigeria on a good day we can take them,” said Chigwedere.

The teams are expected to be in South Africa by October 21 for registration ahead of the actual competition that begins on October 23.

The men’s team will be captained by Tendayi Maredza while Kelly Kaulback will lead the women’s side.

So far Zimbabwe have four athletes that have qualified for the Olympic Games – swimmer Kirsty Coventry, long-distance runner Wirimai Juwawo, rowers Micheen Thornycroft and Peter Purcell-Gilpin.

Teams

Men

Tinavo Mushavi, Pritchard Matambo, Cydreck Starch, Donald Mutupo , Tendayi Maredza (captain), Mathew Williams, Ranga Mungwiniri, Arnold Mpofu, Tapiwa Mafi, Neil Davidson, Rowland Rixon-Fuller (vice-captain), Takudzwa Mangwendeza, Peter Trethowan, Edwin Tholanah, Warick Ullrich, Takudzwa Chipuma, Dominic Ashley and Michael Richards.

Non-travelling reserves: Esau Mufandaedza, Kanyiwe Tapfuma, Kudzanayi Tembo, Prosper Sithole, Sibo Mangena, Thamsy Moyo.

Coaches: Collin Williams, Tongayi Mukwewa

Manager: Kalpesh Parshotam

Women

Jordyn Clipstone, Jaime Hasbroek, Sarah Evans, Jenna Palmer, Stephanie Campbell, Kelly Kaulback (captain), Aimee Nativel, Chantelle Zietsman(vice-captain), Jessica Dollar, Roxy Viviers, Jessica Hilton-Barber, Michelle Williams, Simone Karim, Audrey Mangwende, Iman Johnson, Mitchel Mullins, Kelly Diplock, Aime Brooke.

Non-travelling reserves: Runyararo Chadzinya, Melissa Sibanda, Rashmi Bhagat, Kelly Hinze.

Coach: Eddie Chiringah

Manager: Collen Nativel