KILIMANJARO's Moshi Khalsa has defended its top honour in this season's Mapinduzi hockey tournament, beating Black Mambaz Blue 1-0 in the final which took place at Lugalo hockey ground in Dar es Salaam last weekend.
The nail-biting final saw both teams display classic stick work, with Dar es Salaam-based Black Mambaz Blue turning out to be a favourite for the top honour.
The finalists had the spectators cheering throughout the encounter, and Moshi Khalsa's Temison Kisonga scored the goal which separated the two sides, and saw to it the Moshi side had the last laugh.
Kisonga netted the much-needed goal in the ninth minute of the first quarter and Moshi Khalsa battled to see to it the scoreboard was unchanged right up to the last minute of the game.
The prestigious event, which was organized by the Tanzania Hockey Association (THA), was sponsored by Reliance Insurance Company and NAS Tyre Services Ltd.
Nine men's teams and six women's teams battled it out in the just-concluded tournament, which started on February 29- with all ties being played at the Lugalo hockey ground.
Twende Ladies' team lifted the women's showdown top honour with victory over the TPDF Ladies' squad.
Acting India's High Commissioner to Tanzania, Manoj Verma was the chief guest of honour for the exciting final.
Verma inspected the teams before the final, wished both teams the best of luck, and later presented silverware to the showdowns' winners and best individual players.
The THA Chairman Kaushik Doshi thanked the chief guest for gracing the tournament's final and he also thanked the sponsors for backing the event and the TPDF management for the ground usage.
Majani ya Chai was presented with the category's Best Disciplined Team prize, and Satma Selemani who featured for Buza Secondary School's team received the Best Upcoming Player prize.
TPDF team's Judith Kasaba walked away with the Best Player of the Tournament prize for the women's category.
JMK Youth Park was presented with the Best Disciplined Team honour, and the team's player, Adam Said, won the Best Upcoming Player prize.
Black Mambaz Blue squad's Hafidh Mkuti received the men's category's Best Player of the Tournament honour.
The showdown's men's category outfits were put in three pools, with Pool A constituting Moshi Khalsa, Ngome and JMK Youth Park.
Tanzania People's Defense Force (TPDF) outfit, Tanga Stars, and Black Mambaz Blue made Pool B, and Pool C had Black Mambaz Red, Arusha Twigas, and Twende.
Mapinduzi hockey tournament, also regarded as the National Hockey Club Championship is held every year under the THA, with the winner garnering a chance to represent the country in regional and continental club tournaments.
It is one of the high-profile domestic hockey showdowns that seek to efficiently promote the sport in the country.
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