ZAMBIA

In celebration of 100 years of hockey in the Olympics, the ZHA organized two hockey festivals; one at Simba School in Ndola for school teams and another at Lechwe School in Kitwe for clubs and school teams. Altogether, sixteen teams joined in the celebrations.

The main festival at Lechwe School involved girls and boys from Mindolo, Shalom, Ndeke, Muchungwa and Lechwe School and women’s and men’s teams from K.I.T.E and K.C.E teacher training colleges. Several of these teams included players who had never played hockey before!

Samuel Matete, former 400m.hurdles world champion and Olympic athlete, addressing hockey teams during the opening ceremony at Lechwe School.

Special guests at the festival included the President of the National Olympic Committee of Zambia, Mrs. Miriam Moyo, the Secretary General of the NOCZ and President of the ZHA, Ms. Hazel Kennedy,  former 400m. hurdles world champion and  Olympic athlete, Mr. Samuel Matete and  some head teachers of participating schools  and colleges.

The games were played in a festival spirit with fun and enjoyment underlying the day’s activities. However, there was no denying the competitiveness of games between established teams.

At the end of the festival, certificates and prizes consisting of hockey sticks and goal keeping kit were awarded to teams by the ZHA.