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Africa

HOCKEY fans are in for a treat when the Inter-Provincial Tournament extravaganza kicks off at Khumalo Hockey Stadium in Bulawayo today. The 11-team tournament, which includes the Botswana men and women's sides, runs until May 25 and will be played on a round-robin basis.

The IPT is one of the most prestigious hockey events on the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe calendar. The association has this year included every province to encourage the development of the sport throughout the country.

Tawanda Taruvinga, HAZ treasurer, said his association would this year put more emphasis on the juniors ahead of the World Cup qualifiers to be held in Egypt in September.

"We are going to use the IPT as preparations for the junior team that will take part in the World Cup qualifiers in Egypt. Since the juniors form the backbone of the sport, they must be given the opportunity to take part in such events," said Taruvinga.

Zimbabwe has over the years been the continent's third-ranked nation behind Egypt and South Africa but had a dismal outing at the All-Africa Games in Abuja where it lost heavily to Nigeria and Ghana, to drop to fifth place.

During the IPT, players from the Under-21 teams, among them the Prince Edward pair of Jason Flynn and Walter Banda, will be given the opportunity to prove their mettle as they battle for a place to make the team for Egypt.

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Teams to take part in the tournament are Mashonaland A, Mashonaland Under-21, Matabeleland A, Matabeleland Under-21, Midlands, Hippo Valley and Botswana for the men's sides.

In the women's section Mashonaland, Matabeleland, Midlands and Botswana will battle for honours.

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