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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
UNDER-21 women’s hockey team assistant coach Tendayi Maredza says they are bracing up for a tough competition at the Junior World Cup later this year where they were drawn against defending champions Netherlands, United States and Korea in Pool A.

The event is set for Santiago, Chile from November 24 to December 4 with 16 countries taking part.

Maredza said they have a mammoth task ahead considering the opposition they will to face.

“It is a tough group. Netherlands are the defending champions. USA is an upcoming hockey nation, you could see at the Olympics their ladies team was coming out strong. The Koreans are always tough to play, they are always quick and fit.

“So it’s tough and it’s not going to be easy for us. The top two teams have to qualify for the quarter-finals, but hopefully we will be able to pull a shocker.

“At least if we have a win in the group stages, it will be great for us. This is our first time so we can’t set big goals for the girls,” said Maredza.

The technical team led by Trish Davies have been working with local-based players while the foreign-based are training at their respective bases.

Maredza said the unavailability of resources also makes it difficult to meet their targets since they cannot have the full squad at the same time with some of the players based in South Africa, Australia and the United States.

“With regards to the whole team it’s tough. So we have set up a fitness programme, just basics for them. Obviously we cannot talk of structures and tactics because we need the whole squad to do that.

“We only have six players in Zimbabwe and we have been working with those girls. In South Africa the league is about to finish, some of the girls will have to work on their own and the girls in Australia and America the league is just starting, so they will be fine.

“But it is a big disadvantage because probably if you look at those other countries they have their full squads. For instance South Africa they are having a series against India as part of their preparations, which is an advantage.

“In Zimbabwe, it’s tough because of finances. We don’t have the finances to bring in the whole team. But the advantage is once we participate in this tournament we put Zimbabwe on the map,” Maredza said.

Hockey Association of Zimbabwe president, Humphrey Chigwedere said they are going to host a golf day on September 23 as part of their fund-raising efforts to meet their target budget of $120 000.

Zimbabwe will be returning to Chile for the second time for the global event having participated in the 2005, but this time with a new crop of players.

Pools

Pool A: Korea, Netherlands, USA, Zimbabwe.

Pool B: Argentina, France, Germany, Japan.

Pool C: Australia, Chile, England, South Africa.

Pool D: Belgium, China, New Zealand, Spain.