ARUSHA Twigas started this year’s Uhuru Hockey tournament on a sound win as the event kicked off on Wednesday evening at the Arusha Sikh Union.
Playing in pool A, the last year’s finalists Arusha Twigas beat Arusha Legends 5-1 to record the first voluminous win.
Jointly organised by the Sikh Union Club of Arusha and Tanzania Hockey Association (THA), the tournament which among others aims at commemorating Tanzania’s Independence, has drawn together eight teams pooled into two groups; A and B and is set to wind up tomorrow at the same venue.
Other teams in pool A are Kili Vijana and Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF).
The Pool B includes the defending champions Black Mambas of Dar es Salaam, Moshi Khalsa, Zanzibar Nyuki, and Tanga Stars.
Last edition winners Black Mambaz clinched the title after beating hosts Arusha Twigas by 2 -1 in an exciting final.
The other two matches were being staged yesterday evening with Moshi Khalsa’s taking on the Zanzibar Nyuki challenge and TPDF against Arusha Twigas.
Today’s battle fixtures show that Kili Vijana will face TPDF, Nyuki against Tanga Stars, Black Mamba vs Moshi Khalsa, TPDF will return to action against Arusha Legends while Kili Vijana will return to lock horns with Arusha Twigas.
Two top winners from each group will sail to Sunday semis and finals.
THA outgoing secretary, Kaushik Doshi told the ‘Daily News’ on Friday that the prestigious tournament is being kindly sponsored by Yadav and Sons Ltd.
The tournament happens to be the last event in the calendar of the THA under the chairmanship of Abrahamian Sykes.
Meanwhile, THA is set to start the new era during Uhuru Day as the annual general election to be overseen by National Sports Council (NSC) is conducted today.
Doshi said all the preparation has been complete for the election to take place at the tournament’s venue.
Frank Mgunga, the NSC Information Officer has named the posts to be contested during the election as chairman and vice chairman, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer and five committee members.
However, Doshi will seek re-election at chairmanship post and the new office bearers will save the office for four years term before another election.
