By Tatenda Gondo
There’s something quietly poetic about Zimbabwean hockey. It doesn’t scream for attention. It doesn’t trend on social media. It doesn’t have the luxury of packed stadiums or hefty sponsorship deals. And yet year after year, tournament after tournament Zimbabwe shows up. With heart. With hustle. With purpose.
From April 18 to 25, our Junior National Hockey teams both men’s and women’s will once again carry our flag into battle at the 2025 Junior Africa Cup in Windhoek, Namibia. But this isn’t just about continental bragging rights. This is the road to the FIH Junior World Cup the ultimate dream stage for any young hockey player. Only three tickets per gender are available. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
The Zimbabwe Under-21 ladies are no strangers to the big stage. If they qualify this time, it’ll be their fourth straight and sixth overall trip to the Junior World Cup. That’s an elite company. And with Brad Heuer guiding the side a tactician known for his calm confidence and sharp game mind belief in camp is sky-high. The girls are not just chasing history; they’re determined to shape it.
The gents? Their story is the stuff of gritty sports documentaries. They’ve flirted with qualification before, and come agonizingly close, but the World Cup spot has always slipped just beyond reach. Now, with a new generation of hungry, fearless players, this might finally be their time to rise. It won’t be easy. It never is. But if Zimbabwean sport has taught us anything, it’s that we thrive when we’re counted out.
Which brings us to a bigger question. How has a sport so underfunded, so underrepresented, continued to deliver teams that never miss a major regional or continental competition? How have the ladies managed to qualify for five World Cups, despite the odds? There’s a story here one of resilience, of a community that refuses to let the flame die, of coaches, administrators, and players who believe in something bigger than the scoreboard. Maybe we’ll dig into that after April 25.
For now, Windhoek is calling. The turf is waiting. And our young warriors are ready.
So let’s do our part. Let’s shout a little louder for Zimbabwe Hockey. Let’s cheer like we’re in the stands at Wanderers. Because when they win when they qualify it won’t just be a win for hockey. It’ll be a win for every overlooked sport, every underdog, and every young dreamer daring to believe.
