HARARE - Bulawayo's Khumalo Hockey Stadium is set to host a new Southern Africa schools hockey tournament, known as Sabi Stars, in April.

 Tournament organiser Ginny Ross said they are expecting over twelve schools from the Southern African region for the hockey extravaganza.

 “Invites have been extended to schools from South Africa, Botswana and Zambia and their presence is expected to raise the profile of the new tourney,” Ross told the Daily News yesterday.

Ross added that Sabi Stars will become an annual event.  

 “The event will create an opportunity for schools to compete with other teams that they normally don't compete with,” she added.

 “Tournaments like this give us hope that as a nation we can become one of the top hockey-playing nations in the world again.”

 Khumalo Stadium was refurbished in 2011 in preparation for the African Olympic qualification tournament and since then it has been used for various tournaments. Initially constructed in 1995, the stadium had deteriorated due to underutilisation and lack of maintenance.

 The Sabi Stars tournament is one of the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe’s measures of ensuring that the magnificent facility is put to good use. - Blessings Mashaya