Funding woes force Zambia out of Africa Hockey Cup ‎

The Zambia Hockey Association [ZHA] has announced that Zambia will not participate in the 2026 U18 Youth Africa Cup scheduled for Nairobi, Kenya from 6–8 August 2026 due to lack of funding. ‎ ‎In a statement, ZHA said despite exhausting all available avenues, the Association…

The Zambia Hockey Association [ZHA] has announced that Zambia will not participate in the 2026 U18 Youth Africa Cup scheduled for Nairobi, Kenya from 6–8 August 2026 due to lack of funding.
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‎In a statement, ZHA said despite exhausting all available avenues, the Association was unable to raise the K590,148 required to facilitate participation of both the Under-18 Men’s and Women’s national teams.
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‎“This is a huge disappointment for our players, coaches, and the hockey family, as the tournament would have provided invaluable international exposure and development for our young athletes,” the statement read.
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‎ZHA General Secretary Elvis Blwaya described the withdrawal as “heartbreaking.”
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‎”Missing this opportunity is heartbreaking. Zambia hockey has a rich and strong history in the Hockey5s format, and we had hoped our young athletes would compete and gain valuable experience. Unfortunately, we could not secure the required funding in time,” Mr. Blwaya said.
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‎The Association thanked players, coaches, parents, sponsors, and supporters for their dedication and understanding.
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‎ZHA said its focus now remains on developing hockey and preparing athletes for future regional and international competitions.