Using local wood and an army of female coaches, a project in Tanzania is having a remarkable effect upon hockey in the east African country.
Valentina Quaranta is part of the Hockey Tanzania project that is dedicated to raising the standard and number of participants in hockey in the African nation. The project's aim is to spread hockey into primary and secondary schools in the country's capital Dar es Salaam and the surrounding area. Hockey coaching, led by Valentina, but aided by many older players from the region, will begin in May, with some lessons taking place early in the morning before school starts.
Of course, to play hockey, the players need equipment, and Valentina is delighted to tell us about a scheme among the local carpenters to make sticks for the children to use at the practices. The first prototype has been made by Masudi – a fundi or carpenter – in his workshop in Dar es Salaam. The wood he is using is a durable local wood called "Mlingoti".
Valentina says: "I used it for a couple of training sessions and it’s doing it's job so far!"
The carpenters are making just a small stock at the moment, each stick costs around €7/8 and will be shared among the schools. Women from the local senior team will become “walimu wa hockey”, or hockey teachers. Those without jobs will receive some pocket money in return for coaching.
The impact that Valentina and her band of helpers is having is immense. Just a year ago there was no women's national team in Tanzania. Now they appear on the world ranking at number 46.
For more information on the project visit www.hockeytanzania.com
