The hockey world governing body is planning an initiative to endorse the sport in the African country.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) was presented with 20,000 Euros by BDO, an international accounting network, who is the sponsor of the Dutch Hockey Federation.
The FIH will use that money to lay a new hockey pitch in the African country of Zambia to promote the sport there.
Speaking on the occasion, FIH president Leandro Negre said, “The International Olympic Committee is working on a multi-purpose sports centre in Lusaka, Zambia. The FIH will work closely with the IOC for the hockey pitch initiative.
“Our intention is to increase the awareness of the hockey in that region and also to boost the recruitment of young African hockey stars,” he added.
Paul van Elten of BDO said, “We are delighted to lend our support to this important project. We have a responsibility to our communities and we encourage our people to be involved in them. We aspire to create hope for a better future where currently hope does not exist.”
The sports centre is slated to officially open in April this year. The FIH will then handover the responsibility of the pitch to the Zambian Hockey Federation (ZHA).
[espnstar.com]
More loans. Dambisa Moyo is not going to be happy about this
Zambia has failed to develop its own game, soccer. I am interested to see how they will develop hockey. Ministry of Sports has already started sewing on extra pockets for the loot.
Any contribution to sports is welcome.It helps the youth keep away from illicit activities except if you are Tiger Woods !!!
The initiative is welcome and I hope that the Zambian players will not use the ‘sticks’ as nkoli wa malonda and start hammering each other. We need to diversify sport and take the opportunity to involve the youth rather than encouraging them to be cadres. Yes, it not about football alone what about cricket, chess, table tennis, lawn tennis, Judo, karate, boxing, kick boxing, wrestling, darts, polo, weight lifting, gymnastics, rugby, bowling, golf, squash just to mention a few.
people are dreamers, if you can’t win the afcon what makes you think you will win the hockey cup. who are you to play crossbey. i would advise you to just develop what we have right now then go to thers things.
Is there any hockey federation in Zambia? The last I heard of was headed by Hazel Kennedy and since then I have not heard about the hockey league in Zambia.The hockey pitch should have been placed on the copperbelt where hockey was played extensively and is still being developed in some schools in Kitwe and other mining towns where the pitches are still in existence.
The game of hockey is merely being revived in Zambia. It was played in schools and clubs in the past both in Lusaka and on the Copperbelt. Hockey in recent times and currently is active in Copperbelt schools and in the high density communitirs like Ndeke and in many of the independent schools in Lusaka.
The Hockey facility in Lusaka will be fully utilised to develop the sport amongst the youth as intended and development programmes are already active in Chipata , Mandebvu and other satellite communities around the OYDC. Zambia will soon be hosting and winning zonal and regional tournaments; give us a matter of months rather than years. There are well intentioned thoroughly professional individuals and groups behind the hockey plans for the OYDC facility.
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Personally am very happy because hockey is my favourite game and this new pitch will give us the opportunity to practice in a field that’s the same standard as on the international scene.am truly grateful to the IOC, FIH, BDO, ZHA and the Zambian Government for making this all possible