Mrs Virginia Ross becomes an Honorary Life Member of the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe

At the Annual General Meeting of the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) on the 19^th September, Mrs Virginia Ross (Ginny) was made an Honorary Life Member of the HAZ.

Ginny has served the national administration of hockey for twenty years, from 1995 to 2014. This has included periods of success and growth, and periods of considerable difficulty and hardship, where her grit and determination ensured the ongoing activities of the HAZ.

Ginny started her administrative career in hockey at the club level in 1983 when she was elected Chairman of the Eagles Hockey Club.

In 1990 Ginny was graded by the FIH as an International Umpire and in 1997, she was elected as Secretary of HAZ for five years, before becoming an Executive Member in 2003 overseeing development and coaches. In 2010 Ginny was elected as Vice-President of the HAZ, until 2012, when she took up the position of Hon. Treasurer, a position she is has only just relinquished.

In 2011 Ginny was elected as a Member of the African Hockey Federation. Ginny was recognised by the National Sports Association with the National Sports Administrator award in 2000, and again in 2012 with the National Women in Sport award.

Also during this period, Ginny was appointed as a neutral umpire at a number of FIH tournaments, and in due course graded as an FIH Judge.

In her various roles she has encouraged many national and U/21 teams to participate in regional and international tournaments and has served as manager to the National Women’s Indoor team playing in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Through her coaching of both umpires and coaches, Ginny has shared her knowledge of the game with many hundreds of hockey friends across the country – a legacy that will live on.

FIH President, Leandro Negro paid tribute to Ginny: “I would like to congratulate and thank Ginny for her years of dedication to hockey.”