Story by Anashe Murombedzi
THE Zimbabwe hockey ladies team settled for silver after a one-nil defeat to African champions South Africa at the just ended Junior Africa Cup in Egypt this Thursday.
The curtain came down at the junior version of the hockey continental tournament with a final match between rivals from Southern Africa, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The final was a repeat of the opening group match, with South Africa emerging as the Under-21 women’s hockey African champions.
The two nations had already qualified for the Junior World Cup, with South Africa winning all their three group games, while Zimbabwe made it with two victories.
Zimbabwe went into the match fighting for both gold and pride, but South Africa proved the better side after securing a one-nil win to clinch the gold medal and the champions’ crown.
Zimbabwe got the silver medal for coming second.
In the third and fourth playoff, hosts Egypt won two-nil over Kenya to secure third while Kenya was routed at the bottom.
In the men’s pool, Zimbabwe will return home empty-handed on fourth position after a lacklustre performance so them failing to win a single match, while Kenya won bronze after a two-one win.
Zimbabwe and Kenya are set to miss out the global spectacle as they failed to reach podium finish.
South Africa and Egypt clashed for championship which was lifted by South Africa.
Meanwhile, the Junior World Cup will be held in Santiago, Chile, from the 6th to the 17th of December this year.
