Zambian hockey club humbles Malawi teams
Lusaka Sharks Hockey Club of Zambia taught some of Malawi’s top clubs hockey lessons at the Hockey Stadium in Blantyre last weekend.
Sharks men’s side beat Nyala 6-0, Genetrix 2-0, Braves 2-0 and Scorpions 1-0 to top the five-team log-table with 12 points while the ladies team thrashed Genetrix 6-0, Braves 2-0 and a select team, comprising players from Nyala, Simba and Scorpions, 4-1 to be at the summit of the four-team table.
Genetrix men finished second with 6 points while Nyala settled for third place with the same points. Scorpions and Braves tied on three points apiece but emerged fourth and fifth, respectively, based on goal difference.
In the ladies section, select team took second place with 6 points whereas Genetrix were third with 3 points. Braves finished last with no point.
The Zambian club also took all the individual awards. Alfred Chola was top goal-scorer with five goals while Eneles Mwambe did it with the same number of goals in the ladies category. Samson Tembo was named player of the tournament.
Sharks coach Thomas Mumba had this to say about the competition: “I am very excited to be part of this tournament and we had wonderful time. Although we dominated the affairs, Malawi teams gave us a good run especially Genetrix and Scorpions, who seemed to be very organised and tactically good.
“Malawi clubs are playing good hockey only that they lack proper coaching in some areas and the playing surface is bad as it slows play at times.”
Genetrix coach Geoffrey Biya echoed Mumba’s statement that local clubs need more panel-beating in certain technical areas to succeed against foreign clubsu.
“Despite that, we have learned a lot of skills that will help us to make the forthcoming FMB 11-a-side Hockey League more entertaining,” he said.
Hockey Association of Malawi (HAM) general secretary Chigo Thindwa said they are pleased with the performance of Malawi clubs as the level of play and fighting spirit was great.
