Hockey

Mixed results for Namibian hockey

Namibia hockey enjoyed reasonable success during 2010, with the senior teams losing to Zimbabwe in the Momentum International Hockey Challenge in August, although the junior teams showed great promise in international tournaments throughout the year.

Two Namibian hockey players will be playing in the German league for the next five weeks in preparation for the 2011 Indoor World Cup which is due to be held in Poznan, Poland from 8 to 13 February.

Striker, Siyabonga Martins and goalkeeper DJ Strauss left on Monday evening with Wolfgang Kluth who coaches Rot Weiss Koln, the team they will be playing for.

Kluth said that this would be a great opportunity for the two players to learn something.

The Namibia men and women’s indoor hockey teams will participate at the 2011 Indoor World Cup due to be held in Poznan, Poland from 8 to 13 February.

The Namibia Hockey Union (NHU) announced the names of the players who will represent the country at the tournament in which Namibia will be the only African nation participating.

The president of the NHU, Jesse Schickerling said that the women’s team still needed to be finalised.

Noordgrens and Kahemu teams were the winners of the Under 14 girls and boys 2010 Sanlam Namibia Schools Hockey Tournament that took place at the Rundu Sports Stadium.

Under 12 teams also took part in the tournament, which saw 27 teams competing for top honours.

The coordinator of the tournament, Erwin Handura said the children who took part were very interested to learn more about the sport.

The University of Namibia (Unam) Ladies Hockey Club received a new playing kit from FNB Namibia on Tuesday 7 September.

Erwin Handura, the head coach of the Unam Hockey Club was very grateful for the sponsorship saying that it was a good motivation for the players.

“They will feel good about themselves and the club and will be proud to represent the club,” Handura said.

“The uniforms came at the right time when we are rebuilding the team. In the next two seasons we will have a very strong team,” Handura added.