Hockey Cranes get maiden Olympic Qualifier victory

By Thomas Odongo

Uganda men’s national hockey team, Hockey Cranes had a winning start to the Africa Paris 2024 Olympics Qualifier that hit off on Sunday at Tuks University in Pretoria, South Africa.

The Hockey Cranes were set for the opener against Nigeria but their Pool A rivals didn’t show up and Uganda was awarded a 5-0 victory (walkover), which was also their first victory in an Olympic qualifier.

Uganda are in an Olympic qualifier for the second time having made their debut in 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya. Then, the side had a poor show as they conceded 67 goals in six games and scored just once.

No matter how the win against Nigeria came, the side delights in securing maximum points (three points) against the West Africans and a positive start in Pretoria means that things could be different from the 2007 event.

Hockey Cranes assistant captain and goalkeeper Bosco Ochan says that focus now shifts to the game against Zimbabwe on Monday with the boys eager to grace the turf.

“We are ready for Zimbabwe,” Ochan said adding that; “we will play our best because we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Zimbabwe lost 10-00 to hosts South Africa in the opening day and if Uganda can collect maximum points against the former, they will automatically secure a slot in the next stage of the competition.

Regardless, the Hockey Cranes will look to continue their winning streak in their next game in the group, determined to show that they are a force to be reckoned with. The team looks to be in good shape having had enough preparations prior to the tournament.