News for 21 July 2020
All the news for Tuesday 21 July 2020
India's current hockey teams are best in terms of their fitness: Bharat Chetri
The former men's hockey skipper also said that the Indian side has shown massive improvement since the London Olympics 2012.
Indian men's hockey team (Photo | PTI)
NEW DELHI: Former India hockey skipper Bharat Chetri has said that the current women's and men's hockey teams in the country are probably the best in terms of their fitness.
He also lauded both men's and women's teams for showing proper co-ordination and said that such type of co-ordination was missing in his playing days.
"I feel the current teams are probably the best in terms of their fitness, their style of play, and the coordination. When I had seen their coordination on and off the field, it makes me feel so happy because somehow I felt that this level of coordination was something that was lacking in our teams of the past which perhaps was one of the reasons we have been unable to perform exceptionally on occasions," Chetri said in an official release issued by Hockey India.
"We always had the talent and the opportunity to take that step forward as a team, but the other teams were ahead of us in their respective Olympic processes, and I think we always ended up lacking that authority and edge in big matches," he added.
The former men's hockey skipper also said that the Indian side has shown massive improvement since the London Olympics 2012. He also said that the players have benefitted from the infrastructure and efforts done by Hockey India.
"Over the past eight years since the London Olympics, I think there has been considerable improvement in our game, and the credit for that also needs to go to all the players and coaches who have been involved, and also Hockey India for doing a great job in providing the best facilities and infrastructure to its athletes to train and stay during their National Camps, and play on tours abroad," Chetri said.
"I think as a young player, when you see the kind of importance that a National Team gets from its fans and the federation as well, it is just very motivating. As a former athlete, I can tell you that it means a lot and is always added motivation for the players," he added.
Both the Indian men's and women's hockey teams have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. The showpiece event was slated to go ahead this year, but it has been pushed to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"The younger Bharat would have said that my dream was to win medals at the Olympics, but the older Bharat, as a fan of Indian hockey, just wants to see these amazing teams win the medals for our country at the Tokyo Olympic Games. It is not just a dream, it is a belief, which I have seen in our current players also during the times that I have spent with them as the goalkeeping or assistant Coach," Chetri said.
"I think the talent that we have in our ranks, along with the top fitness levels, we really have a good chance to perform at our best under the guidance of both the respective chief coaches," he added.
New Indian Express
An appeal to Vietnam not to shut out indoor hockey
By Jugjet Singh
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) finally set the dates for their inaugural indoor hockey league, but the sport is in danger of losing its Asean bite. - NSTP File pic
THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) finally set the dates for their inaugural indoor hockey league, but the sport is in danger of losing its Asean bite.
Malaysia introduced indoor hockey to the Sea Games in 2017, and won gold in the men's and bronze in the women's events.
At the 2019 Games in the Philippines, Malaysia made a clean sweep of the gold.
However, hosts Vietnam are not keen to have indoor hockey in 2021.
MHC will make an appeal, through the Olympic Council of Malaysia, and are hopeful of a reversal from Hanoi.
"Malaysia Indoor Hockey League (MIHL) will make its debut, Oct 17 to Dec 20 at UPSI (Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris), Tanjung Malim.
"Invitations will be sent soon to states, as well as indoor hockey clubs, to compete," said MHC Indoor Hockey chairman Shurizan Mansor.
UPSI has three indoor pitches of international standard, and the league will be held every Friday to Sunday.
"I believe the response from states and clubs is going to be great, for teams would want to be the inaugural champion in their respective categories," said Shurizan.
Malaysia missed the boat to the men's and women's Indoor World Cup last year when Kazakhstan knocked both our teams out in the semi-finals of the Asia Cup.
The Malaysian men lost 4-3 in the semi-finals but won bronze in the playoff after beating Uzbekistan 6-3.
Their women counterparts lost 2-1 in the semi-finals, and in the bronze match they held Uzbekistan 1-1 but lost in the shoot-out.
Meanwhile, a Hockey 5s seminar was held in Negri Sembilan recently by coaches Wallace Tan and Megat Azrafiq, who helped to plot Malaysia's Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 5s gold in 2018.
However, the YOG will not be held in 2022, as Covid-19 has forced its postponement to 2026.
New Straits Times
Rescheduled cup dates set to signal the start of hockey's long-awaited comeback
By John Flack
Cup countdown: Pegasus captain Ruth Maguire
Plans are in place to herald the start of the new hockey season by completing the 2019/20 Irish Senior Cup in September, signalling good news for the three Ulster clubs who are still involved in the two competitions.
Much will naturally depend on the coronavirus being kept under control in the interim and the relaxation of lockdown measures continuing broadly according to plan.
However, there is light at the end of the tunnel for Lisnagarvey and Cookstown men, both of whom have reached the semi-final stage along with Pegasus, who are through to the women's showpiece.
Garvey were due to host Dublin side Glenanne and Cookstown scheduled to entertain UCD in March a couple of weeks after the season was suspended.
Pegasus were looking forward to a rematch with UCD, having lost 4-0 to the Dublin students in their last appearance in the final.
Now though, it's looking likely that the long wait for a return to competitive hockey will soon be over with the cup games acting as a curtain raiser for the new season.
The men's semi-finals have been pencilled in for September 5 with the two finals provisionally fixed for a fortnight later - possibly as a double header.
Unsurprisingly, the Ulster clubs who are still in cup contention are delighted with the prospect, their joy compounded by what will be an ideal warm-up for the new campaign.
"We couldn't be happier to hear that the Irish Senior Cup could be getting the go-ahead in September," said Cookstown co-coach Michael Haycock.
"It's at a very early stage but I think this is testament to all the work going on to get the sport up and running and to make sure everyone involved is properly protected."
Pegasus captain Ruth Maguire also welcomed the development as her side prepares for a European Hockey League trip to Amsterdam in October.
"We are just so excited to see the start of the new season again whatever the competition and it's been a long wait but worth it," she said.
Belfast Telegraph
England Hockey season still in limbo over Leicester and Bowdon appeals
By Rod Gilmour
Leicester were tied top of Investec Division 1 North PIC: Leicester Hockey
The fixture list for the 2020/21 Premier Division season looks set to be delayed following the drawn out appeal featuring Bowdon men and Leicester City women and no conclusion until August.
With one game remaining, Bowdon and Leicester could have finished top of their respective divisions in the Investec Division One North following the curtailment of the 2019/20 season and have been in discussions with England Hockey since April which could have repercussions for the Premier Division.
Following a formal appeal, no resolution has been found with the two clubs, raising the prospect of a legal pursuit. Leicester were unable to comment to The Hockey Paper on the matter.
England Hockey said in a statement to THP: “Following the decision made in respect of concluding the 2019-20 season, and its ratification by the England Hockey Board, we have been in ongoing communication with a small number of clubs about the decision.
“A formal appeal was then lodged in respect of the decision by Bowdon and Leicester City with the support of Wapping. The appeal was then stayed to enable a process of alternative dispute resolution to take place.
“No resolution was reached and so the appeal has proceeded.”
England Hockey added that the intention was for a conclusion by early August and clubs have subsequently been notified.
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The Hockey Paper
Psychologist Andrea Furst praised for GB Hockey women’s turnaround
By Rod Gilmour
Andrea Furst started with GB Hockey in 2014 PIC: mentalnotespsych.com
GB women’s sports psychologist who played a signficant behind-the-scenes role as Team GB won Rio 2016 gold has been praised for the ‘huge impact’ on the team which went from ‘rock bottom’ to Olympic champions.
Australian Dr Andrea Furst, who has now left the GB programme and recently helped England Rugby at last year’s World Cup, started work with Danny Kerry’s squad in 2014 in a year which saw England finish 11th at the World Cup and win Commonwealth silver.
The squad first met Furst at an overnight training camp near Bisham and she soon became, as Kerry later described her, the “hand on the tiller” as far as team culture was concerned.
She turned notable conflict within the group into a positive outlook, installed the team’s vision ‘be the difference, create history, inspire the future’ and created values such as ‘one team, we are winners and be alive’.
With her help, alongside Bisham initiatives such as ‘Thinking Thursdays’ where team values were put into training scenarios, England and GB women turned into match winners, which included EuroHockey 2015 success and accumulating unprecedented winning runs at Olympic qualifying in 2015 and then Rio.
https://www.thehockeypaper.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/England-players-celebrating-winning-the-Unibet-EuroHockey-Championships.-Credit-Chris-Lee1-e1441008593842.jpg
Georgie Twigg, the former GB international, told THP: “The impact she had [with us] was huge. She was so matter of fact. We had hit rock bottom and she came in at an opportune time.”
Ed Barney, GB Hockey’s performance director, praised Furst for her “seamless athlete support” with the Australian now set upon other commitments from September and the women’s programme seeking to appoint another team psychologist.
Barney said: “Andrea has made an invaluable contribution to the women’s programme, both to the players and staff.
“Much of her work has focused on seamless support of the athletes, leadership group and staff team – often Andrea has led from the front of the room, but equally it has been the small nudges and tweaks (often unseen) behind the scenes that have supported the programme go from strength to strength. We are very sorry to see her go.”
The Hockey Paper will profile Furst’s work with GB Hockey when we return in print
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The Hockey Paper
Blue Peter should come calling for Alex Danson, a marketer’s dream
By Claire Middleton
I’ve had the honour of covering a lot of hockey, some of it even out of the cold and wet, at great events in marvellous places.
And, in my time as a reporter and correspondent there have been teams which raised the bar, like the Hockeyroos of 2000, the world champion Kookaburras of 2014, or the German kings of Kuala Lumpur in 2002. There have also been matches which took the breath away, like any between India v Pakistan, or even England v Pakistan (Commonwealth Games 1998 and the Utrecht World Cup meeting the same year).
But how many players have genuinely left an imprint? How many have made such an indelible contribution that watching them was always a pleasure, whatever the event, whatever the weather?
I’m not talking about players I’ve liked as people – of which there have been loads – but the absolute stand-out, gold-standard competitors. The ones who could galvanise team-mates, destroy their opposition and change games.
In the men’s game, Shahbaz Ahmad of Pakistan was one, even as I caught him near the end of his playing career. Oliver Domke, of Germany, was another and Michael Green, from the same interchanging, mind-blowing, opposition-crushing team, a third.
In the women, Alyson Annan and Nicky Mott of the Sydney gold medallists, Argentina’s Luciana Aymar in her prime and Natascha Keller, of Germany, are the players I will remember when I’m reminiscing with Cathy Harris, of The Times, over tea and biscuits in our dotage. And you can add to that women’s list Alex Danson, of England and Great Britain.
I first saw her in action at the 2002 World Cup. Her selection was a surprise and didn’t go down well with everyone. In fact, one charming male coach had a vitriolic spit at me about both her inclusion and the team in general … which made me instantly well disposed towards her, even though I had not seen her hit a ball.
When I did see her play, her skills and her determination, her endless running and never-say-die attitude stood out. She was young and not yet in a position of influence within the team, but you could see she was a breath of fresh air who would challenge the old guard and be a driving force to the new.
She was clearly a coach’s dream. Winning or losing she would run her socks off for the cause. She was Chumbawamba – she’d get knocked down and get up again, every time. That picture of her, in mid-air, eye on the ball, at full-stretch with muscles toned sums her up. It’s easily worth 1,000 words.
Always positive, always taking responsibility, never blaming anybody else. Don’t go to her if you’re a journalist looking for gossip. Vegetarian and passionate about animal welfare, she’s a marketing dream and should really be leaving hockey for a career as a Blue Peter presenter. (Does Blue Peter still exist?)
Yet alongside all those admirable character traits lay a steely competitor with an eye for goal. Others I’m sure will comment on her technical skills but as a spectator and reporter, she was the one (often the only one) who might make stuff happen, who could pop up, turn on a sixpence and wallop home something special on the reverse stick.
I was a step removed from hockey by the time she won Olympic gold but I was right there during the early, character-building stages of the journey: the high of that first World Cup in 2002 when she scored the final goal in a rampant England’s 7-2 mauling of Germany, to an unsatisfactory seventh-place finish at the worst event of all time, the Madrid World Cup of 2006.
Our ways parted at that point, with a brief rendezvous at the Beijing Olympics, where yet again, high expectations were dashed and Holland, China and Argentina hogged the podium.
Beijing, however, proved the catalyst and, with London on the horizon, self-reflections by players and coach led to a restyled regime, full-time athletes, bronze and then gold. Through all that, Danson led by example and gave her all. She will be missed.
Always a pleasure to watch, let’s hope Blue Peter come calling.
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The Hockey Paper
Restructuring national hockey: PHF ready to take ex-greats on board
LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has said it would welcome former greats if they wished to boost its efforts to uplift the national game.
“We have requested our former Olympians Samiullah, Hasan Sardar, Manzoor Jr, Rashid Jr, Akhtar Rasool and Qasim Zia to give lectures to players on mental fitness and share their experiences with them,” said PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa in a video message here.
“The PHF president directed us to hold a programme which includes the aspect of players’ mental fitness so that they do not get rusty because of the lockdown situation,” he added. Last week, the offices of the federation were opened under SOPs for corona virus and now the PHF has started planning for the future.
He said Samiullah gave an hour-long lecture to the players. It was also attended by Khwaja Junaid and other coaches. “If any former Olympian speaks against the federation it doesn’t mean that they are angry. It means there is some mistake and we should rectify it,” he added.
“I have always respected my seniors. Samiullah has some reservations with the federation. I will try to address his reservations and also of other Olympians so that hockey can come on the right track,” he said.
He further said if Samiullah wanted any seat in the federation then it was okay. “But he and other Olympians are above all this. Ranks are a very small thing for them. Their motive is just to see hockey on the right track and if they want to work in any capacity then PHF will always welcome them,” he said.
He said in Ramazan PHF held a programme along with coaches for the players and the outcome was 100 percent. “We also conducted tests of players which were also good,” he said. Bajwa said they were in a virtual conference with International Hockey Federation (FIH) CEO Thierry Weil in which it was suggested to introduce Hockey FIVE if the COVID-19 pandemic expands. “That is why a similar event is being planned at home,” he added.
The News International
Turning Point: 1999 Junior Nationals made Viren Rasquinha believe he was good enough to play for India
Viren Rasquinha's life could have turned out much differently had it not been for a Junior National Hockey Championship 21 years ago.
Amit Kamath
Editor's Note: In every athletes' life comes a moment that flips his/her career around. A solitary slice of inspiration, a date with destiny, an important result, a wise word, the proverbial turning point may arrive in any shape or form and end up defining the said athlete. In Turning Point, Firstpost's latest weekly series, we look at some such moments.
In the past two decades, Viren Rasquinha has courted fame by playing for India at big-ticket events like the Athens Olympics and Hockey World Cups; made headlines by retiring from the sport at the age of 28 to study management, and then played a role in many of India’s Olympic medals as the CEO of Olympic Gold Quest.
But Rasquinha’s life could have turned out much differently had it not been for a Junior National Championship 21 years ago, a tournament Rasquinha calls the turning point of his career.
The year was 1999 and Rasquinha had been chosen to captain the Mumbai hockey team for the 30th edition of the Junior Hockey Nationals in Bangalore. Facing strong teams like Karnataka and Punjab & Sind Bank in the quarters and semis, the underrated Mumbai team belied expectations and powered into the final for the first time in 24 years.
“We exceeded expectations in that tournament. We were not expected to progress beyond the quarter-finals. The Karnataka team, which we played in the quarters, had players like Arjun Halappa. Since the tournament was being played in Bangalore, they were also the home side and firm favourites against us. No one expected Mumbai to beat them,” Rasquinha tells Firstpost.
But beat them Mumbai did. And then they pulled off another minor miracle against a very strong Punjab & Sind team.
Clarence Lobo, who back then was a selector for the Mumbai junior team, watched the match from the stands. Despite 21 years having passed, Lobo’s memories of the match are remarkably sharp.
“Bombay were trailing in that game, but they produced a remarkable turnaround! They played fantastic hockey in that match. With only their brains (they beat Punjab & Sind Bank)! That was what Bombay hockey teams were known for: once we had the upper hand in a game, finish! They will deprive the opponents of the ball the whole match. That’s what happened in that semi-final. Once they wrested back the lead, they started holding the ball,” says Lobo.
The Mumbai junior hockey team that competed in the 1999 Junior National Championships. Image courtesy: Viren Rasquinha
The Mumbai fairytale, though, was cut short by the Air India academy squad, which had four players from the senior India squad like Deepak Thakur, Prabhjot Singh, Devesh Chauhan, and Anurag Raghuvanshi.
“Air India were a very strong and established team. The cream of junior talent across the country was at the Air India academy at the time,” says Rasquinha. “They were by far the favourites. But we were not really afraid, because we had nothing to lose.”
While losing in the final at the Junior Nationals would have been deflating, it did eliminate any doubt Rasquinha had about himself.
“Before that tournament, I wasn’t sure if I was good enough to play for India,” admits Rasquinha. “I was always good at studies so I wasn’t sure that hockey was the way forward for me. I wanted to play hockey, I wanted to give everything… But in that tournament, more than proving anything to anyone else, I proved to myself that I could play at that level and I could match up to the best players in the country. That was important.”
Rasquinha has never looked back since. Soon after the tournament, he got called into the India junior hockey camp and was part of the India set-up until he retired to pursue further studies in 2008.
“If it was not for that tournament, there was no way I would have caught the eye of the national selectors,” says Rasquinha.
Rasquinha’s doubts over his calibre to play for India were not shared by his early coaches like Lobo and grassroots hockey coach Marzban Patel (or Bawa, as he is fondly known in Mumbai circles). Both Dronacharya Awardees knew from a young age that Rasquinha was meant for the big stage.
“When Viren was playing for the Bombay Republicans, Bawa would always talk about him each time I would meet him. So I thought I should go watch him play. He was just out of school, but I could tell he was the most intelligent player on the pitch. His basics were strong, and he could read the game very well,” says Lobo.
Soon, Rasquinha was playing for the Tata side coached by Lobo.
“No flaws,” was Lobo’s early assessment upon coaching him. “He was a very intelligent boy. Besides playing hockey, he continued studying. If a player is educated it makes things easy for the coach. He was a coach’s player, he would do whatever the coach asked of him rather than whatever he wanted to do. He had great leadership qualities and was very disciplined.
“More importantly, he could speak and the confidence level he had was at a different level. Youngsters playing the sport should look up to him,” says Lobo.
Firstpost
Life Member - Sue Briggs OAM
Sue Briggs OAM has become a name synonymous with Australian Women’s Masters Hockey, and for good reason.
Remarkably, Sue continues to be heavily involved with Australian Women’s Masters Hockey having been part of the first Australian Women’s Veterans 35+ team was selected in 1996. She has been a constant ever since.
This was the start of continuous involvement in the growth of Women’s Masters Hockey in Australia, which now boasts an amazing number of competitors and teams and keeps increasing in popularity.
In 2000, Sue was awarded the Australian Sports Medal and in 2017 she received an Order of Australia for her service to hockey.
For the past 20 years she has been integrally involved in the organisation of the Trans-Tasman Masters Challenge. Sue also held down the position of Chair of the National Women’s Veterans Committee in 2003, was a member of the Hockey Australia Veterans (now Masters) Commission for 12 years and also helped to coordinate the 2016 Masters Hockey World Cup that was held in Canberra.
The exceptional regard Sue is held in is highlighted by the fact she currently Co-Chair the Hockey Australia Masters Committee and is Secretary of World Masters Hockey.
What they said…
“I found it (being awarded Life Membership) overwhelming and I got quite emotional about it all. To be recognised by the organisation that you have spent a hell of a lot of time in trying to progress the sport, I really value my relationship with Hockey Australia, so it was truly quite overwhelming to receive Life Membership.
For me personally Masters has provided an extra life in hockey. When I was first selected in an Australian Masters team and went to an international event I can remember walking on the pitch, the national anthem playing and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and vividly remember how proud I felt. Masters has offered me so many opportunities and I’ve made so many wonderful friendships, not only in Australia but around the world, and it has afforded me this incredible opportunity that I would never have been able to experience in other aspects of my life. Hockey is a great team sport and a sport for all ages…you can start off as a 4 year old and can still be playing when you’re 84. In hockey I have found people are so giving and it’s such a fantastic team sport.” Sue Briggs OAM
From those in the know…
“From my perspective Women’s Masters Hockey and Sue Briggs are synonymous. They have been together for as long as I’ve been around and aware of what goes on, whether it’s in New South Wales, the national level or the international level. She just lives and breathes hockey, and particularly Masters hockey. She is tireless and passionate about what she does, which is invaluable in a sport like ours.” Norman Same (Co Chair, Hockey Australia Masters Committee)
Australian Women’s Masters (Veterans) Organisation History & Involvement
2000-present Involved in organising the Trans-Tasman Masters Challenge
2000-2012 Hockey Australia Veterans Commission
2003 National Women’s Veterans Committee (Chair)
2010-2016 Hockey Australia Masters Advisory Panel (Chair)
2012-2019 International Masters Hockey Association (Secretary)
2016 Involved in the organisation of the Masters Hockey World Cup in Canberra
2019-present Co-Chair of Hockey Australia Masters Committee
2013-present Australian Masters delegate to FIH
2019-present World Masters Hockey Executive Board member (Secretary)
Masters International Representations
1996 IMHT (Hong Kong)
1997 IMHT (Seoul, Korea)
1998 World Cup (Netherlands)
1998 IMHT (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
1999 IMHT (Brunei)
2000 Trans-Tasman (Auckland)
2002 Trans-Tasman (Brisbane)
2003 IMHT (Auckland, New Zealand) (OFT)
2004 Trans-Tasman (Wellington, New Zealand
2005 45’s Tri series v NZ (Sunshine Coast)
2006 Trans-Tasman (Hobart)
2008 Trans-Tasman (Hamilton, New Zealand)
2009 50’s/55’s Tri series v NZ (Auckland, New Zealand)
2010 Trans-Tasman (Newcastle)
2011 International Invitational (Gold Coast)
2012 Oceania Development Tour (Fiji) (HA Rep)
2012 Masters World Cup (Canterbury, United Kingdom)
2013 Trans-Tasman (Auckland, New Zealand)
2013 European Masters Cup (Belfast, United Kingdom)
2014 England Tour 35’s /55’s (Aldershot, United Kingdom)
2014 FIH Masters World Cup (Rotterdam, Netherlands) (HA Rep)
2015 Trans-Tasman (Melbourne)
2016 Masters World Cup (Canberra)
2017 Trans-Tasman (Whangarei, New Zealand)
2017 60’s Home Nations Tour)
2018 Masters World Cup (Terrassa, Spain)
2019 Trans-Tasman (Gold Coast)
Hockey Australia media release
The movers and shakers at Uganda Hockey Association
The Uganda Hockey Association (UHA) is one of the 51 sports federations duly registered by the National Council of Sports (NCS)
by David Isabirye
Stanley Tamale (walking in background of a hockey game). Tamale is the assistant general secretary in charge of administration
Sound structures of administration, technical and management define institutions world over.
Such structures often provide the right directional path and important strong pillars that could be used to front change and bench-mark a way forward.
The Uganda Hockey Association (UHA) is one happy family that constitutes the 51 of the duly registered sports federations and associations under the National Council of Sports (NCS).
Kawowo Sports’ David Isabirye dissects the influential figures who diligent serve the UHA day and night, 24-7 and week-in, week-out.
Lydia Gloria Dhamuzungu
Lydia Gloria Dhamuzungu is the president of the Uganda Hockey Association, a portfolio held since 2017.
She is referred by many as the “Hockey Iron lady”.
Lydia Gloria Dhamuzungu is the president of Uganda Hockey Association
Dhamuzungu is very soft spoken albeit confident in pursing the very best for Hockey.
During her tenure, she has worked to see many players play the game both in the clubs, universities and schools.
She has had an admirable focus on capacity building where over 200 coaches and game officials have been trained since she took office.
Some of officials have international certification in her reign something you cannot ignore. Dhamuzungu has also witnessed the return to activity of the national teams which had gone dormant since 2011.
She started with preparation of the team that was to go to Algeria for the Youth All Africa Games as well as Youth Olympic qualifiers.
Though team did not finally travel but at least she showed the heart to see it happen. In 2018 she led a select team of players from the national league selected from the different clubs that participated in the league to Bungoma for the Magharibi Festival tournament which the Uganda select team won convincingly.
Whereas this was not a tournament for national teams but it was a step in reviving the national code a trophy is credited to her for looking for sponsors to support this adventure.
In 2019 Dhamuzungu embarked on a mission to see that both men and women National teams prepare for the Olympic qualifiers that were in Stellenbosch, South Africa but failed to travel due to funds.
Her efforts cannot be over looked in reviving national teams.
With sour relations left by her predecessor, Dhamuzungu has worked to see that UHA relations with National Council of Sports (NCS) are positive and yield support to the hockey community.
Through networking skills she has harnessed benefits from Uganda Olympic committee through which we now have the Development for National Sports Systems (DNSS) project.
The project worth Shs 120, 000,000 has seen the training of coaches and umpires among other initiatives to be implemented. She has also been able to connect with Africa Hockey Federation to receive Targeted Assistance Program Support (TAP) which is running for three years in East Africa Region.
Dhmuzungu has worked hard to lure sponsors to the sport among others including Kampala Cement Company, Basco paints Uganda, Twist (Dutch) and Uganda Baati who is supporting the league.
With her executive, she has created clear pathways for career growth of game officials and umpires.
There is lots of initiatives to grow the sport by training teachers in hockey playing schools in coaching and umpiring, Distribution of equipment to virgin communities to start Hockey like in Kumi, Gulu and Seeta.
This is credited to her good skills of resource mobilization both in equipment and funds.
In her reign, the presences of Hockey in Olympic matters like celebrating the Olympic day joining the rest of the world between June 23rd -25th every year.
Through this initiative FIH found Uganda Hockey to receive a development grant of 1000 CH which was use in training the national team.
Michael Nashimolo:
Michael Nashimolo is the current vice Chairperson of Uganda Hockey Association serving a long side Dhamuzungu.
He is popularly referred to as “Nash” in the Hockey family.
Nashimolo is also the chairman of the schools and development committee charged with spreading the game of Hockey in all parts of Uganda.
In line with this role, he is spearheading the Development of National Sports Systems in Uganda hockey a project supported by International Olympic committee through Uganda Olympic Committee.
Nash is an active player featuring for Rockets Hockey Club and a valuable player.
He is also a long serving umpire who is confident of rules while executing he is at his role.
He is one of the senior umpires with the right character and temper to handle the “big games”.
Arnold Vincent Kasasa, National Coordinator of the Development of National Sports System In Uganda Hockey. He has a level 2 FIH Certificate
Arnold Vincent Kasasa:
Arnold Vincent Kasasa is a Level 2 FIH certified coach. He guided his club Weatherhead to glory by lifting the 2018 League winner’s trophy.
He has been instrumental in giving tactics to all players in the club and also the schools he coaches.
Kasasa has either initiated or grown the game of Hockey in schools like Buddo King’s College, Namagunga, St Mary’s Kisubi, St Charles Lwanga Kasasa, Bukulula SSS, Ntale School, and in Gulu.
After a long time without Hockey having a national Team, Kasasa headed the select team of league players to participate in a tournament in Bungoma Western Kenya where they emerged winners in 2018.
He in February 2019 let the youth side of boys and girls to TAP East Africa Tournament in Nairobi Kenya where both teams clenched bronze something that is not a mean achievement for Hockey.
Kasasa is currently the National Coordinator of the Development of National Sports System In Uganda Hockey a project funded by International Olympic Committee (IOC) through Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC).
Suzan Khainza (with left) and Stanley Tamale
Suzan Khainza
Suzan Khainza is a dedicated coach of Rhino Hockey Club.
From scratch, this ladies team was started by Khainza.
It is composed of youthful females majorly from St. Charles Lwanga, Kasasa and Old Kampala Senior Secondary School.
Khainza has been instrumental to strengthening girls hockey in Old Kampala consolidating on the great work by Late William Mukasa (Zico).
Before starting Rhino’s Hockey Club, Khainza coached Kampala Hockey Club Swans Ladies team and by the time she left it was a team strong enough to beat even the league winners.
She is a trained sports manager who is ready to take the game to places where it does not exist.
Khainza also single handly mobilizes equipment that she uses to train the your girls.
Stanley Tamale (walking in background of a hockey game). Tamale is the assistant general secretary in charge of administration
Stanley Tamale
Stanley Tamale is an Assistant General Secretary in charge of administration.
Tamale is very agile in seeing hockey work progress in various departments.
He has worked as an umpire on two continental tournaments elevating his level to FIH.
Tamale is blessed with strong Public Relations and Marketing skills and has been instrumental in pursing key sponsors and partners for Hockey.
Besides, he is also an active player in Kampala Hockey Club and has had his name on the score sheets in the Uganda Hockey League.
Innocent Mbabali hands over a short to a young boy.
Innocent Mbabali:
Innocent Mbabali is one of the young coaches and players with self-made skills that are a marvel.
He trained the Wananchi Ladies team that has gone on to win trophies five years consecutively.
This team is a marvel full of young ladies featuring for Kakungulu Memorial Secondary School, a team that was able to win the gold medal in the FEASSA Games 2019.
In 2012, Baba as he is commonly referred to started training your kids from Naguru and nearby communities and this young boys and girl have since formed what is known today as Hope for Uganda Hockey Academy.
Through this sports code, he has taken hockey to different communities like in Kabale and in Kumi organizing sports camps with the support of Kampong Hockey club in Netherlands and Hockey Dreams foundation.
Through this support he has travelled to the Netherlands and participated in Sports Ways Hockey camps as a coach.
Mbabali has mentored a number of young coaches majorly ladies from Wananchi Sports Club.
As a player he has been able to test professional hockey in Nairobi featuring for USIU Hockey club.
Mbabali is scheduled to feature for Bologna Hockey Club in Italy for the season of 2020/2021 and he will join the likes of Emmanuel Owani in Tanzania and others on the streak of professional (commercial) hockey.
Aisha Kagere Kateregga:
Aisha Kagere Kateregga is currently a level 2 FIH technical officer after a course she attended in South Africa in August 2019.
She currently is in charge of appointing the technical officials of all UHA tournaments and League.
Kateregga is trained sports administer with a Diploma in Sports Management attained from Uganda Olympic Committee.
At the same time, she remains a dedicated hockey player featuring in Weatherhead Hockey Club ladies’ team.
She is one of the ladies who has played hockey from the time while in school and still plays till now in the same club
Kenneth Tamale:
Kenneth Tamale is the current Umpire manager of Uganda Hockey Association.
He is tasked with the job of appointing umpires in all UHA sanctioned tournaments and the National League.
Tamale is the current Assistant treasurer for Uganda Hockey Association, a role he has held for close to three years now.
He is a Level 1 FIH umpire an achievement he got in February 2019. In Uganda Hockey he has been awarded as the best umpire in 2019 end of season.
Tamale is active player featuring for Rockets Hockey club, in which club he serves as an executive Chairman member.
Jamilu Buwembo (Head Teacher Kakungulu Memorial School)
Jamilu Buwembo is the head teacher of Kakungulu Memorial School.
Through the policies he made for the school, the Uganda Hockey Association (UHA) has witnessed the nurturing of many hockey players both boys and girls through offering them bursaries.
This initiative earned him a gold medal in the East Africa Secondary School games in Tanzania when the girls team won.
A number of schools have since seen value in the sport that they also now offer bursaries the likes of St. Charles Lwanga Kasasa, Old Kampala SSS among others.
A Hockey duel between Wanainchi and Weatherhead ladies
Kawowo Sports
Vale Ben Acton 1927-2020
Hockey Australia is saddened to learn of the passing of former Kookaburra and Olympian Ben Acton.
Hockey Australia is saddened to learn of the passing of former Kookaburra and Olympian Ben Acton.
The 115th men’s player capped for Australia, Ben debuted for his country on 29 July 1950.
A talented half back from Victoria, Ben was a stalwart of Footscray Hockey Club in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Ben was born in 1927 at Footscray Hospital and named after his grandfather. He was educated at ex-Geelong Rd State School and Footscray Technical College.
Ben took up his grandfather and father's trade of plumbing. He trained in the Victorian Football League (VFL) as a young man with the Footscray Football Club (now AFL Western Bulldogs). However, his sister Joyce (later Joyce Wilms) encouraged him to take up both skating and hockey.
Ben won the Footscray Hockey Club Best and Fairest award for 10 years straight from 1947-1956.
Humbled by the consecutive decade of honours, Ben requested not to be included in the best and fairest voting after 1956, though he remained in the team, to allow his team mates to shine.
He also coached at Footscray Hockey Club from 1949-1958, during which time the club won two State League Premierships.
Ben is possibly the only Australian, and only man in the world, to represent his country in both ice hockey and field hockey.
Ben was vice captain of the Australian Men's field hockey team in 1950, 1952 and 1954 and carried the torch at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.
He captained the Australian ice hockey team at the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley in California. He was invited to the 1964 Olympics but declined because of business commitments.
Ben represented Victoria at field hockey for 15 years.
Acton Reserve in the Footscray Gardens is named in his honour.
Ben passed away peacefully in his Queensland nursing home on 10 July 2020, a few days short of his 93rd birthday.
Hockey Australia sends its deepest condolences to John’s family and friends. Hockey Australia thanks the Footscray Hockey Club for providing much of the information in this Vale.
Hockey Australia media release