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Planet Field Hockey

The Daily News (Harare)

THE Hockey Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) has put in place measures which include trying to lure foreign-based players in order to strengthen their men's squad as the association makes last-minute attempts to come up with a strong side for the All-Africa Games scheduled for Nigeria in October.

Gavin Stephens, the HAZ president, indicated that the association was keen to have the players in the squad before September when both the women and men's team would tour South Africa as part of their final preparations for the games.

Some of the players who are likely to be included are Neil Evans, currently playing in South Africa, as well as Warren Gilmour and Kevin Browne, who are both in United Kingdom.

The arrival of the foreign-based players is likely to boost coach Collin Williams' hopes of coming with a strong team which could enhance their chances of at least winning a medal.

Last month Williams toured South Africa with a makeshift team of local players which was thrashed in all the four matches they played against some provincial sides.

Stephens indicated that although the association was under strain for funding, they were still going to try to come up with the best teams to represent the country.

Williams is currently in South Africa with the Under-16 and 18 teams in preparation for next year's Africa Cup of Nations.

The national coach is also expected to assess some of the juniors who could be drafted in the national team.

HAZ staged the inter-provincial tournament last weekend at Magamba, which was won by Matabeleland "A", as part of their selection process.

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