Story by Raynald Ngwarati

THE Hockey Association of Zimbabwe has set its sights on talent development to improve the country’s competitiveness on the international stage.

After the Under-21 girls’ Hockey team qualified for the World Cup to be held later this year, the local hockey governing body is persisting with grassroots development to breed future champions.

This has seen the body’s schools’ division setting up the Golden and Silver Girls Hockey tournament which roars into life this Friday at Arundel School.

The tournament which will run until the 30th of July will feature 24 under-18 school teams across two leagues, the Golden and Silver classes.

The two leagues are composed of two pools each, comprising six teams.

After the girls’ tournament, the Super 13 boys’ teams from the A-League will battle for honours a week later.

Meanwhile, the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe is set to host Zambian junior and senior teams from the 11th to the 13th of August at St John’s Astro Turf, in Harare.

The developmental series will see Zimbabwe and Zambia’s Under-13, Under-14, Under-16, Under-18, senior men, and women’s teams taking part.

Zimbabwe boasts of a rich history in hockey, with the famous Golden Girls winning an Olympic gold medal for the country in 1980.