MIRROR REPORTER 

MASVINGO–Hippo Hockey team is representing Zimbabwe at the 18-team Africa Cup for Club Champions currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya.

The tournament is being held at Dashmesh Hockey Stadium. 

The club captain and Masvingo Hockey Board secretary general Pritchard Matambo confirmed the development to The Mirror. Hippo Hockey team played its first game on Tuesday and lost to Kenya Police 1-0.

The tournament began on February 13 and ends of February 19, 2023. 

The club is the only team from the southern region and will be squaring off with some of the continent’s best clubs among them record champions El Sharkia of Egypt, Exchequers and Ghana Revenue from Ghana and Butali Warriors from Kenya. “Hippo Hockey Club is eyeing the Africa Cup of Club Championship being held at Dashmesh Hockey Stadium in Kenya. Having dominated the local leagues, the club will be squaring up with record champions El Sharkia of Egypt who lead the foreign legion.  

“Zamalek (Egypt), Exchequers and Ghana Revenue (Ghana), Kada Stars and Police Machine (Nigeria), Wananchi and Weatherheads (Uganda), Moshi Khalsa (Tanzania), Butali Warriors (Kenya) are some of the teams that will be taking part during the tournament. 

“Hippo Hockey is the only club from the Southern Region. We have participated in this tournament before, and in our best performance we won the bronze medal at Khumalo hockey stadium in Bulawayo. Currently we are leading the Harare hockey league and the team looks forward to bringing a medal and continue raising the Zimbabwean flag higher,” reads a statement released by Matambo. This tournament has been running for 33 years for men and 24 years in the women’s category. Hippo Hockey Club was established in 1997.