Tanzania Daily News<\/a> (Dar\u00a0es\u00a0Salaam)<\/p>\nJapheth Kazenga<\/p>\n
2 December 2011<\/p>\n
\nMAINLAND hockey giants, Prisons, have promised to heroically defend the country’s pride in the Africa Hockey Club Championship that will take place in Lusaka Zambia from December 9 to 17.<\/p>\n
Prisons will be making a maiden appearance in the continental event, which will involve ten clubs from across the continent participating in men and women categories.<\/p>\n
The team received the national flag from the National Sports Council (NSC) Chairman, Dioniz Malinzi, at the body’s premises in Dar es Salaam on Friday and will be leaving for Lusaka early this morning.<\/p>\n
Senior Assistant Commissioner of Prisons in Tanzania, Clement Keenja, on behalf of the Principal Commissioner of Prisons, Augustino Nanyaro, expressed optimism that Prisons will work hard in the championship and possibly win honours, despite competing for the first time.<\/p>\n
He added that the team’s participation in the event projects the beginning of Tanzania’s concerted efforts to reach greater heights in hockey, a sport that has yet to achieve the desired success at the domestic level.<\/p>\n
“The team has prepared well for the tournament and hopefully it will not be there to simply add up numbers we are sending the team to compete and possibly bring the trophy home,” said Keenja.<\/p>\n
Malinzi urged Prisons to cover every blade of grass in a bid to excel in the championship, adding that the team should be aware of the huge responsibility it carries throughout its participation in the continental event.<\/p>\n
“You are going to represent Tanzania, so, you have to work hard,” he told the players. “I request you to perform well (in the tournament) sports can promote the country very well, thus, you have to seize the opportunity,” added Malinzi.<\/p>\n
Malinzi presented US Dollars 2000 to the team to cater for its needs during its participation in the Africa Hockey Club Championship, scheduled to be played at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in the Zambian capital.<\/p>\n
The NSC boss also promised that the council will meet Nanyaro and discuss better ways to work together and effectively promote hockey and all other sports disciplines in the army.<\/p>\n
“There is a need to promote all sports in the army (Prisons) it is always easy to work with the army because there is a high level of discipline there,” said Malinzi.<\/p>\n
Prisons’ coach, Merica Kahola, said the Lusaka tourney offers his side with a crucial opportunity to establish itself as a serious competitor at the continental level, adding that the event will also serve as a learning curve to his team.<\/p>\n
“We are not only going to compete but also learn I will use the event to learn other clubs’ approaches towards major continental games and everything pertaining to technical and tactical aspects,” said Kahola.<\/p>\n
AllAfrica – All the Time<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n