Twende falter in Africa hockey tourney

Tanzania women hockey team, Twende’s hopes of making their presence felt in this year’s African Club Championship in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe have waned after suffering consecutive losses.

The Tanzanians experienced a disappointing start in the event after succumbing to a 5-0 loss to Nigeria’s Plateau Queens and were later beaten by hosts, BAC.

Twende put spirited displays to restrict the Niger
ians to a 1-0 lead at half time but the latter had an upper hand in the second half.

In the second game, the hosts capitalised on the home ground advantage to hand Twende a 10-0 rout.

Twende are making their second appearance in the premier competition for clubs in the continent. The side’s maiden participation came in the January’s tournament held in Kampala, Uganda.

The Tanzanian side’s head coach, Italian Valentina Quaranta, had earlier promised that her charges will play their hearts out, much as they hardly stand a chance to win silverware.

In the women category’s other matches, Kenya’s Orange cruised to a 7-0 win over Shams of Egypt while Kenya’s other representatives, Strathmore, thrashed Egypt’s Sharkia 5-0.

The men’s category games saw Egypt’s Police commanding an 8-0 win over hosts, Eradicators, and the former thereafter went on to garner a 17-0 drubbing of Malawi’s Genetrix.

Sharkia of Egypt trounced the hosts’ side, Hippo, 12-1, and the latter, then managed to force a 3-3 draw with Ghana’s Trustees.

Genetrix failed to snap their losing streak after succumbing to a 6-0 loss to Nigeria’s Police Machine, as Sharkia handed Eradicators a 9-0 defeat.

Tanzania Hockey Association (TAHA) secretary general Kaushik Doshi said several clubs that were expected to take part in the event have pulled out and the situation has forced organisers to slightly change the tournament’s fixture.

According to the fixture released by Africa Hockey Federation (AfHF), the play offs are expected to start on Saturday, with participating teams in men and women categories battling for the fifth, fourth and third positions.