Africa Olympic Qualify… Getting ready!

In 2016 there will be the Olympic Games in Rio de Janerio and hockey is one of the Olympic Sports. Now is time to decide which countries will be represented by their National Teams in the world most prestigious sport competition. The Nations that will represent Africa, will be chosen within the champions, for the men side and the women side, of the Africa Olympic Qualify. The tournament was planned to be played in Egypt, but then has been shifted to South Africa because of politic problems in the country. The new location will be Johannesburg, the tournament will be played from the 23rd October to the 1st of November. 20 National Teams are expect to take part to the biggest hockey event in Africa of 2015: till now 11 men teams and 9 women teams have confirmed their participation. Tanzania will be there with both men and women team.

Nick together with Mnonda Magani, Merika Kahola and the team during a training section on September 2015

team picture of Tanzania Men Team!

The men team is coached by the experienced Dutch Coach Nick Isbouts, who after coming to Tanzania the first time for the Hockey Volunteer Camp last January, decided to help for the development of Hockey in Tanzania by volunteering as coach of the men team. He is assisted by local coaches Mnonda Magani and Merika Kahola.
 

Nick while interviewdby national television

Tanzania men team training section

Tanzania Men team training Section

On the ladies side, the team is coached by Ignas Luena and Valentina Quaranta. The tournament will be tough, Tanzania will have to play against nations that are much more experienced, but already we have won our first match, which was raise the funds enough to pay the trip and the accommodation in South Africa.

Tanzania Women Hockey Coaches, Ignasi Luena and Valentina Quaranta

Starting training….

Short corner training…

Short Corner…

 

Together with one of our main supporters, Raelene Trimper from Australia!!! (in the middle). On the left Suzanne, our friend from Holland! On the back, Nick Isbouts, coach of the Tanzania men team, and collegue!

We have got the fantastic, amazing support from private donors from all around the world: friends, hockey players and other supporters from Italy (Hockeylove), Tanzania, Australia (Raelene Trimper) Netherlands (Nick Isbouts, Ivo Caminada, Rijswijksche Hockey Club and other friends) …just to name some of them.

Thank you to all the supporters of Hockeylove network, from Italy

Moreover, we want to thank very much our main local sponsor, the NMB, which has supported the teams in their trip to Johannesburg and also have provided us the uniforms.

On the 19th of October both teams will fly from Dar Es Salaam to Johannesburg with the African low cost company Fastjet, which also has supported us with a good discount on the tickets. Asante sana also to all the staff of Fastjet to be supportive, from the head office in London to the local staff here in Dar. Special thank you also to all the staff Pledgesports for organizing the online fund raising campaign and of course a big thank you to all the people who have made a donation through the website. On the 19th of October we will take off, direction Johannesburg… For the players will be the first time in their life to fly, you all will be with us! Less than 4 weeks to go. Johannesburg we are coming!!!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE AN EFFORT TO REALIZE THIS DREAM!.

READ MORE ABOUT OTHER HOCKEY NEWS ON THE Hockey Tanzania Newsletter July-August 2015