The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has pledged its support for the development of hockey in Malawi by providing equipment and assisting in the improvement of hockey facilities across the country.
This was disclosed by Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Henry Kamata, upon his return from Ipoh, Malaysia, where the Malawi youth hockey team participated in the FIH World Youth Hockey 5’s Festival from December 17 to 21, 2024.
Dr. Kamata highlighted the opportunities presented during the tournament to further promote hockey in Malawi.
“While in Malaysia, we had a meeting with the president of the International Hockey Federation. I am pleased to announce that, as a result of this meeting, Malawi will receive another hockey turf, similar to the one at Kamuzu Upper Stadium, which will be installed in Lilongwe. This is a significant investment for the country,” said Dr. Kamata.
“Additionally, FIH has committed to constructing a mini-stadium around the hockey ground at Kamuzu Upper Stadium, with funds already secured. We are now working on the necessary documentation, and by next year, the stadium will be ready. Furthermore, as part of FIH’s commitment to developing hockey, they will provide us with 500 hockey sticks in 2025 to support the establishment of hockey-learning schools,” he added.
The General Secretary of the Hockey Association of Malawi, Mr. Geoffrey Biya, expressed his gratitude to the Malawi National Council of Sports for supporting the team’s participation in Malaysia.
“This tournament provided a platform for our young players to showcase their talent. We are proud of their performance, as it was Malawi’s debut at the event. Despite initial expectations of being underdogs, the team held its own against some of the world’s top teams,” said Biya.
During the tournament, the Malawi team participated in an intensive development program, which included elite training camps, technical workshops, and competitive matches. The team recorded victories against Nepal (4-1) and Kazakhstan (3-0), a draw against Saudi Arabia (2-2), and losses to Indonesia (6-0) and Iran (4-0). They finished in 6th place globally and ranked 1st in Africa among the 14 participating countries.
The World Youth Hockey 5’s Festival is part of FIH’s strategic vision to strengthen emerging hockey nations through youth development and the promotion of Olympic values.