Malawian hockey clubs miss out on Africa Club Championships
Two local hockey clubs, Genetrix and Scorpions are on the blink of missing out on the opportunity to participate in the Africa Club Championships games in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe next month.
Genetrix are failing to raise the needed K2 million to travel to Zimbabwe for the competition while last year and this year’s Monolux 11 aside Hockey league champions, Scorpions have not yet submitted entry application past the deadline of November 20th which was last Wednesday.
According to Hockey Association of Malawi (HAM) vice secretary, Wanthaza Mughogho, Genetrix Hockey Club need a miracle if they are to participate at this year’s Africa Club Championships games to run from December 1st to 8th.
“The Genetrix Club has managed to raise about MK700, 000 which could be enough for transport only and need registration fee for men’s team of MK365, 000. The women’s fee has been paid already. In total the club needs Mk2million for food and accommodation for 40 people,” Mughogho explained in an interview.
On Scorpions, Mughogho said the club has not yet submitted its entry form, prompting ACCC Local Organizing Committee to send a strong warning that it will cancel the participation of any team that does not send their entry form by November 20th, 2012.
“The teams are already past that deadline. We are hoping the deadline could be extended to allow at least one club to go to Bulawayo in the event they miraculously find enough funds for the trip and beat the new deadline if that would be possible. Otherwise, failure to go is bad for hockey and sports in general.
“Our strategic goal as an association is to have clubs play in international competitions. Sport grows and is driven by sponsorship from companies and business owners and the lack of that kills it. Economically times are hard indeed, but a little bit from one company and a little bit from another company or individual could make a huge difference in hockey and sports in Malawi,” he added.
Mughogho said the field preparations for the championship games have been very good and that players are in great shape despite the likeliness of participation is still uncertain.
He said efforts to help the club to raise more funds for the trip have been hitting hard walls.
“We wrote to several companies but ‘devaluation’ has been their answer. It is very unfortunate that companies haven’t been responsive enough, this being a high profile tournament where the giants of Africa meet,” Mughogho said.
Last year Genetrix participated in the same competition for the first time in Lusaka, Zambia but failed to clinch a medal.
The Scorpions won this year’s men Monolux league champions Scorpions with Simba women team lifting the women’s league title.
Scorpions pocketed K90, 000 as champions while Simba got K60, 000.
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