Dar pupils relish hockey course at JMK Park

Dar es Salaam. Over 70 young players from Dar es Salaam-based schools will benefit from a hockey course taking place at the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Park (JMK).

The course, which enters its third week, has been organised by the Dar es Salaam Hockey Academy and is conducted by two renowned Ugandan trainers.

The trainers-cum-players are David Onenchanna and Owen Emanuel train 43 boys and 28 girls who are expected to graduate in October.

“We have 71 students whom we have started training at the moment and most of them are from Dar es Salam’s Almadras School. There are 43 boys and 28 girls currently attending the course,” said Emanuel.

“They are learning the sport quickly and soon they will be among the best players in the country,” he said.

He said the programme has also the backing of the Tanzania Hockey Association (THA). It is part of the association’s efforts to promote the sport in the country.

According to him, the course will climax in October, a time which Emanuel thinks, the students will be ripe enough to play in any tournament.

However, he advised other schools to introduce hockey since it can be played in football grounds.

“We have so many schools in Uganda and Kenya that play hockey as their regular sport. We hope Tanzania will soon make it a popular sport too,” he added.

A standard six pupil, Burhanuddin Jamalle is one of the trainees at the Park. He said hockey is as good as football when one learns its regulations.

“I have never thought I would one day play hockey. Now I play it and enjoy playing it,” he said.

Taher Zover is also one of the pupils learning hockey at the JMK Park. He said he would like to don national team colours when he completes the course.

“My ambition is to be a professional hockey player like my instructors. I know hockey is very popular in many countries, hence becoming a professional player is my dream,” he said.

Hockey at the moment is very popular in schools such as Makongo and Kibasila.