Hockey players abandon Olympic squad-(08-02-07)

ember squad called to training camp by head coach Billy Birkett.
“She is concerned about the negative reports coming from home. She is deeply concerned about what is happening at home and will not coming. She has a negative attitude about everything here. We have to move on and we cannot force her to come for the training camp,” Ross said.
US-based Christine Mwaturura has also indicated that the she will not be available after securing a job in China.
US-based Danni Pycroft and Kristina Manolios have also pulled out due to injury.
Ross said the team was not losing sleep over the non-availability of some of the senior players.
“We are going to hold the inter-provincials from 24-25 March and we should be taking more players on board. Those who failed to make it into the squad have a chance to showcase their skills,” Ross said.
Rudo and Kundayi Mawema, who were part of the Junior World Cup in Chile, and warhorses Bridget Hoard, Sarah MacMillan and Polly Burgess, who played in the 1997 World Qualifiers, were named among the provisional 53-members.
Kundayi, a freshman at Bucknell University, is making a return to the team after playing for the national team in the Junior World Cup held in Chile in 2005. Rudo, a forward and a former Dominican Convent student, is at Bryant University on a hockey scholarship.
Fourteen foreign-based players, at US and South African universities, are part of the team. The players include Peterhouse Girls High’s Sarah Blythe-Wood, former Arundel student Holly Wiles, Geraldine Raynor and Chantelle Zietsman. Thirty-nine members of the squad players are locally based.
The Hockey Association of Zimbabwe has appointed a seven-member technical team. Birkett is the head coach. Jooks Lowe has been appointed the speed, agility and fitness coach while the skills coach is Antony Five. Louis Mnyama is the tactical coach. Mark Brackley will be in charge of the goalkeeping, penalty and corners. Chris Davison will be in charge of the Southern Region. Ginny Ross is the manageress.
The Zimbabwe Olympic Squad:
Candy Bate, Sarah Blythe-Wood, Sam Brown, Polly Burgess, Tatenda Chikumbirike, Shelly Clarke, Emma Dunn, Gina Eley, Nikky Fraser, Ruth Fraser, Joy Fraser, Ashleigh Georgio, Karen Hensman, Bridget Hoard, Jacquie Kataneksza, Gemma King, Debra Kunaka, Amy-Lee Levy, Stacy Logan, Shelley Maasdorp, Sarah MacMillan, Belinda Mannix, Kristina Manolios, Kirsty Martin, Jenny Mason, Netsai Matengarobvi, Rudo Mawema, Kundayi Mawema, Stephanie Mazingi, Tash Meth, Michelle Mullens, Mutsa Mutembwa, Faith Musengezi, Christina Mwaturura, Pauline Ndlovu, Megan Odendaal, Jenna Palmer, Jamie Patterson, Danni Pycroft, Megan Pyvious, Geraldine Raynor, Bridget Riley, Cara Ross, Sarah Stuttard, Renee Swanepoel, Nicky Taylor, Andrei Tchali, Jean Turner, Holly Wiles, Robin Williams, Zietsman Chantelle, Faye Zurnamer. – CAJ News