Hockey makes giant strides
The exhibition matches showcased the very best of Namibian hockey and proved that the sport is alive and well.
The Bank Windhoek national indoor hockey league hosted three exhibition matches over the weekend at the Windhoek Showgrounds.
The matches featured the best men's indoor league players from the Khomas and Erongo regions.
A first of its kind, the aim of the exhibition was to showcase the level of Namibian hockey and its development. The players took the matches seriously and entertained the crowd with top-class hockey skills and tricks to the appreciation of the spectators.
The Khomas All Stars and Erongo regional men's indoor hockey teams faced each other in the first exhibition match of the day.
The Khomas All Stars, made up of players from the national team, started the match on a high note and inflicted a 5-1 defeat on the Erongo side.
The second match, between the Khomas All Stars and Khomas Futures, had the spectators on their feet due to the high-paced play. The thrilling match ended in a 4-3 win for the Khomas All Stars who looked pleased to hear the final whistle. Khomas Futures, made up of upcoming hockey stars, went on to win their last match of the day, as they swept aside the Erongo regional team 5-1.
“Although the coastal team lost all their fixtures, the end result shows that there is improvement in hockey at the coast. We are proud of them,” said Namibia Hockey Union (NHU) president Marc Nel.
Nel added that the NHU intends to rollout the exhibition matches every end of the season and grow the game in terms of regional participation, which will also include a women's league.
“Congratulations to the NHU for putting up yet another exciting initiative. The standard of hockey has improved tremendously and we are proud to have been a part of the incredible journey of this sport in Namibia,” said Bank Windhoek head of corporate affairs Hayley Allen.
At the end of the exhibition tournament, spectators gave a standing ovation to all the hockey players for putting in great performances.
Next on the hockey calendar is the much-anticipated Bank Windhoek national outdoor hockey league, scheduled to kick off in early July.
SPORTS REPORTER
The matches featured the best men's indoor league players from the Khomas and Erongo regions.
A first of its kind, the aim of the exhibition was to showcase the level of Namibian hockey and its development. The players took the matches seriously and entertained the crowd with top-class hockey skills and tricks to the appreciation of the spectators.
The Khomas All Stars and Erongo regional men's indoor hockey teams faced each other in the first exhibition match of the day.
The Khomas All Stars, made up of players from the national team, started the match on a high note and inflicted a 5-1 defeat on the Erongo side.
The second match, between the Khomas All Stars and Khomas Futures, had the spectators on their feet due to the high-paced play. The thrilling match ended in a 4-3 win for the Khomas All Stars who looked pleased to hear the final whistle. Khomas Futures, made up of upcoming hockey stars, went on to win their last match of the day, as they swept aside the Erongo regional team 5-1.
“Although the coastal team lost all their fixtures, the end result shows that there is improvement in hockey at the coast. We are proud of them,” said Namibia Hockey Union (NHU) president Marc Nel.
Nel added that the NHU intends to rollout the exhibition matches every end of the season and grow the game in terms of regional participation, which will also include a women's league.
“Congratulations to the NHU for putting up yet another exciting initiative. The standard of hockey has improved tremendously and we are proud to have been a part of the incredible journey of this sport in Namibia,” said Bank Windhoek head of corporate affairs Hayley Allen.
At the end of the exhibition tournament, spectators gave a standing ovation to all the hockey players for putting in great performances.
Next on the hockey calendar is the much-anticipated Bank Windhoek national outdoor hockey league, scheduled to kick off in early July.
SPORTS REPORTER
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