By NDINAWE SIMPELWE –
THE Zambia men hockey team started the 2017 Africa Cup qualifying campaign on losing note after going down 1-0 to the hosts Tanzania in Arusha.
After watching the female counterparts put up a splendid performance to beat Tanzania 3-1 on Tuesday, the male team failed to emulate the result as a Sunny De Souza lone goal was all the hosts needed to carry the day.
The defeat puts Zambia in a difficult position to qualify to the Africa Cup to be staged in South Africa in August as only one team will be picked from this tournament which has nine competitors.
Zambia now will look to redeem their chances when they play Malawi today in a game that would make or break the team’s chances.
Meanwhile the women’s team is one win away from making it the finals in South Africa as they face Tanzania today.
The women’s qualifiers has only two teams in Zambia and hosts Tanzania and are playing on a best-of-three basis and one more win for Zambia will settle guarantee the tie.
Having won the first game 3-1, the Zambian women will fancy their chances today knowing a win will send them to the Africa Cup.
But with a partisan crowd expected to cheer the hosts who know they are one defeat from missing the Africa Cup, it will be a tough game for either team.
