Hockey Association of Malawi (Ham) has taken a first step towards ensuring that there are more female coaches in the sport, so as to attain gender balance and appeal to the wider public.
Over the weekend, the association drilled female coaches in the art of leadership and coaching in Blantyre to prepare them for the forthcoming hockey season.
Ham official, Geoff Biya, said the course, held at Malawi National Council of Sports headquarters, attracted 10 female coaches.
“We have six female hockey teams in Blantyre, so we want ladies to take up the challenge of standing on the touchline. We needed to train them as we only have one female coach,” said Biya, who was the course’s instructor alongside Benjamin Chaura.
“The ladies showed that they are ready to go and deliver the goods. Being a first ladies’ coaching course, it gives them the platform to improve women’s hockey in areas of tactics, organisation and attitude.”
The association’s General Secretary, Chigo Thindwa, reportedly challenged the female coaches to take up the challenge of leading teams.
Some of the female coaches described the course as enlightening and promised to prove their worth when the season gets underway. Some of the participants were Joyce Msiska, Merine Zaunda, Bridget Likoswe, Martha Kumwenda, Lilian Kadango, Martha Nyirenda, Chisomo Jamali and Esnath Linyama.
Hockey was a big sport in the 1970 and 1980s, but poor funding and dwindling infrastructure has betrayed the progress of the discipline.
To revamp the sport in Malawi, Ham has embarked on a stadium construction project at Kamuzu Stadium Upper Ground.
Across the border, Egypt and South Africa are among Africa’s top hockey playing nations.
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