The Sunday News
Muzingaye Ncube Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE National hockey league enters week two, next weekend, with five matches lined for the two days at Khumalo Hockey Stadium in Bulawayo.
The 2014 national hockey league will see five teams participating in the men’s category and there would be no ladies’ league due to inadequate number of teams.
The five teams are Hippo Valley, Rams from Chiredzi, three from Bulawayo which are Kings, Queens and Skies. A total of 30 matches will be played in the season and all of them will be staged at Khumalo Hockey Stadium due to the non-availability of an artificial turf in other centres including Harare.
Last year’s league winners Hippo Valley are on top of the log standings following their emphatic victories in the first round of matches which were played last month, where they edged the two Bulawayo teams Skies 6-0 and Kings 16-1.
Hippo Valley who boasts of having in their ranks the league’s leading scorer Warwick Ullrich who has amassed an impressive nine goals would be hoping to continue with their good run when they take on their home boys Rams in their first match and Queens of Bulawayo on Saturday.
The other match on Saturday will feature a Bulawayo derby of Skies and Kings and Sunday will see Rams lock horns with Skies while Kings would take on Queens in another city derby.
Hockey association of Zimbabwe vice-president Humphrey Chigwedere said the fans will have free access to the matches.
“There are no charges for spectators for any of our domestic matches this season, this is meant to promote the sport and encourage more people to come on board,” he said.
Fixtures
Saturday
Hippo Valley vs Rams 12:00 to 13.30
Skies vs Kings 14:00 to 15:30
Hippo Valley vs Queens 16:00 to 17:30
Sunday
Rams vs Rams 08:00 to 09:30
Kings vs Queens 10:00 to 11:30
