National Sports

Genetrix teams return empty-handed from Africa Hockey

Men and women teams for Genetrix Hockey Club have returned from the Africa Club Championships in Zimbabwe where they failed to pluck a win in six and seven games.

The club’s outfits qualified for the continental club championships after sweeping both the men and women’s trophies in the 2013 FMB 11-Aside Hockey League, but it seems their dominance is only confined within the Malawi borders as they suffered defeats in Bulawayo.

Flashback: Hockey action
Flashback: Hockey action

A 17-0 thumping by hosts’ outfit Hippo Valley was the worst defeat Genetrix men suffered at the international event while the women side was downed with their back on the floor 12-0 by eventual champions Strathmore University of Kenya.

This was the second time for Genetrix men to participate in the African Club Championships. Their inaugural appearance was in 2012 when they were also eliminated in the first round. For the women’s side, this was their first appearance.

Genetrix’s poor run at the international showpiece comes few months after the men’s team won the Phoenix Assurance Hockey Tournament, which they played as guests, in Zambia

However, Genetrix team manager Chigo Thindwa believes the team has made improvements in this latest episode, but he was quick to say that pitiable preparations and meagre funding took their toll on the performance of the teams.

“Our friends are used to playing on artificial turf continuously, but when we tried to train at Kamuzu Stadium prior to our trip, we were denied access,” said Thindwa.

 

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