Genetrix attribute losses in Zambia to fatigue
Genetrix Hockey Club (GHC) men and women’s teams yesterday returned home empty-handed yesterday after suffering embarrassing defeats at the Zambia Hockey Association (ZHA) Championships in Lusaka.
The men’s team lost all their five games against Sharks (0-7), eventual champions Hippo Valley of Zimbabwe (0-4), Sharks Academy (0-4), De Stars (1-2) and Lusaka Tigers (0-1) while the women’s outfit lost four matches; 0-6 and 0-5 to Sharks Ladies plus 0-4 and 1-2 to De Stars Ladies.
According to GHC manager Chigo Thindwa, they could not expect better results after travelling for 24 hours and arriving in Lusaka few hours before the games.
“Fatigue was our biggest handicap. Our friends were fitter than us and it could require a miracle to win a single match. We expected to arrive in Lusaka 12 hours earlier, but that failed because the bus we used was sluggish,” Thindwa said.
“Because of this, we were forced to play at least three games per day for the men’s side instead of two to cope with the tight schedule of the competition. But overall, there was much improvement in terms of score margins as compared to our last international outing, especially our girls. Otherwise, we matched our opponents on the ball.”
At the ZHA contest, Genetrix were expected to travel alongside their compatriots Nyala Hockey Club, who failed to make it due to financial constraints.
This was the third time Genetrix men’s team was taking part in an international event after winning the Phoenix Assurance Hockey Tournament in Zambia last year and stuttering in the preliminary stage of the Africa Club Championships in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
