By GWEN CHIPASULA –
THREE Egyptian clubs have arrived in Zambia ahead of the Africa Cup of Club Championship that gets underway this Saturday at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka.
And the Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) has come to the rescue of the Zambia Hockey Association (ZHA) by pledging to help stage the event that will run from December 12 to 19.
One of three Egyptian club coaches Ahmed Talaat, who coaches Sharkia women’s team, said in an interview after a training session at the OYDC grounds that he was confident of winning the title.
Talaat said the team was coping well with the Zambian weather pattern and that he was working on building a strong team that should win the tournament.
“Our aim is to win the tournament because we have come with a good team and we hope to beat the defending champions. Generally, we have prepared well and are looking forward to the tournament,” he said.
Defending women champions Orange Club of Kenya were being expected in the country last night for the tournament that will see Zambia represented by two clubs, Lusaka Sharks and DE Stars.
ZHA coordinator Thomas Mumba said at a Press briefing held at the OYDC that SCZ had promised to help fill up the budget deficit so that the event was hosted successfully.
“They have not really told us how much they will give us but they have assured us that they will give us something because clubs have started coming and the games are on this Saturday,” he said.
Mumba said K67,000 had been raised from the budgeted K130,000 towards hosting the event.