National hockey teams intensify training ahead Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers in South Africa

The men’s and women’s hockey national teams have intensified training ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualifiers Games to be hosted in South Africa.

Qualifier games will be held in Johannesburg from 29th October to 5th November 2023, and Zambia is expected to take on countries like Egypt, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia and the hosts South Africa.

The top teams in each gender category will earn a direct spot in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The men’s team will be coached by Elvis Bwalya while the women’s team will be coached by Floyd Chomba.

Training is being conducted at the Olympic Youth Development Center ( OYDC), according to a statement isssued in Lusaka on Wednesday by OYDC Communications Officer, Noah Silomba.

Zambia hockey players were motivated when the OYDC Zambia Chief Executive Officer, Fredrick Chitangala, visited the teams to witness the kick off of their training sessions.

While at the hockey field, Chitangala implored the players to stay focused and make sure that the training they have embarked on would yield positive results as they travel to South Africa for the must-win games.

“The centre within its capacity remains resolute to show support to hockey stating that it is ecstatic to note that many of the athletes in the two teams benefitted from the Teulings Youth Sports Challenge which the centre continues to manage to nurture young and talented athletes in several sports disciplines,” he said.

Chitangala is also optimistic that the two hockey teams will be able to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for having garnered experience from participations in the 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China and the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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