Hockey reaches Katutura schools

By Michael Uugwanga

THE Namibia Hockey Union (NHU), in partnership with some schools in Windhoek through the Standard Bank Junior hockey initiative, are currently running a programme at eight primary schools in Windhoek, while other towns such as Rehoboth, Okahandja and Mariental will be next in line.

It is against this background that Standard Bank has invested hockey equipment worth N$70 000 to the schools, namely People’s Primary School, Bethold Primary School, Namutoni Primary School, Khomasdal Primary School, MH Greef Primary School and Gammams Primary School while a similar project was started in Rehoboth and Okahandja this week. Last week, Confidente Sport visited People’s Primary School to witness the launching of the project that was attended by learners together with the school’s hockey coach Fiona Bezuidenhout.

The learners are being taught the basic skills of hockey such as first touch, leading (when trying to get into a good position on the field), passing, hit and flat stick tackle (when the ball carrier is moving slowly and in a confined space).

The kids are excited to have hockey at their school and most of them cannot wait to start playing against other schools in November.

Josephine Sheya, a grade three pupil said she enjoys playing hockey.

“It feels good and I really like playing hockey,” she said.

Mark Hoyle, also in grade three said that he chose hockey because it is just like any other sport such as football, rugby and cricket, which he aims to excel at.

Hoyle also said that his dream is to become a professional hockey player.

“It feels very nice and I like to play hockey because it is also part of sport. I want to become a top hockey player,” said Hoyle.

Alfrieda Uusiku, another grade three pupil said, “I want to become a hockey player as I love the sport of hockey.

Ntombi-Zanele Kamure a grade four learner also agreed that she enjoys hockey.

“I like playing hockey because it is part of sport.

Coach Bezuidenhout said that the kids are excited to have been introduced to hockey and are going to play in a new school league slated to start in November in Windhoek.

“The kids are happy and they have learned a lot. They are committed and I am so happy that we now have hockey at the school,” she said.

Meanwhile, it was good news for NHU after the International Hockey Federation (FIH) last week announced that the Namibia men’s indoor hockey team and the U.S.A will replace Australia and New Zealand at next year’s FIH Indoor World Cup to be staged in Liege, Belgium.

The men’s team will join the women indoor team that qualified to the tournament after it won the Africa Indoor Cup in April this year.