JAYSON KARAN
The Zimbabwe Women’s Under 21 Hockey team put up a great performance on Wednesday to beat Kenya in a do or die showdown as they keep their Junior World Cup dreams alive.
Zimbabwe came to the game inform and did not disappoint as they got their first goal from Sithole Kaylee just three minutes into the game .
The Zimbabwe women keep on piling pressure on the Kenyan side knowing only victory will help them to qualify for the World Cup. Mzizi Khanyisile doubled the score for her side in the 11th minute of the game.
Sithole who was all over the field scored her second goal in the 20th minute to keep on the pressure on the Kenyan side who’s defense was struggling to contained Zimbabwe.
Tanyaradzwa Changa who was also in form during their win against Egypt, introduced herself in second half of the game as she managed to give Zimbabwe another goal to make it a four to zero lead.
Tadiwanashe Elijah was the most valuable player of the game as she sealed their victory with a hat trick as the Zimbabwean ladies booked their ticket to the World Cup with a seven to zero win.
“Im so happy with the way the girls played today as they were very confident and managed to deliver a well needed victory,” said Brad Heuer, the Zimbabwean coach
“It was an important win for us as it also helped us to qualify for the World Cup which is scheduled for Santiago Chile in December this year,” added Heuer.
“We are now preparing to get back at South Africa in the finals and we hope that we will do our best and keep our current momentum. We want to bring back the gold home,” said the happy coach.
South Africa who are currently on top of the table went head to head against the hosts Egypt in a do or die match and the Southern African side managed to seal their victory with a eleven to nothing win.
This leave the South African team undefeated as they are now heading to the finals against their rivals Zimbabwe.
South Africa will be looking to finish their 2023 Africa Junior Cup undefeated while Zimbabwe are looking to revenge as they have lost to neighbors South Africa in the group stages.
On the other hand, the Zimbabwe Men’s side finished their campaign win less as they lost to the hosts Egypt three to one in their final match.