It’s double delight in the Hippo Valley and Chelsea Drifters camps after adding the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Cup to their Harare Hockey Outdoor league titles last week.

Something is common in these two teams; it’s not only the double triumph but camaraderie and sound preparations for their success.

Hippo Valley dominated the Harare Men’s league and they have carried that form to national tournaments much to the delight of their captain Kanyiwe Tafuma.

“It was all about team work,” he said.

“We had so many games locally and outside the country plus also the national league hence we ended up doing double headers in the Harare League,” he said.

Hippo Valley beat Mark Manolis Panthers 2-0 in the HAZ Cup deciding match at.

The champions had also proved their mettle in edging Panthers and Rising Stars for the Harare Outdoor league title on goal difference (31) after the three teams ended the league locked on 18 points.

“Our preparations for the season were great,” Tafuma said.

“We played a tournament in Zambia to experience different challenges and we wanted more game time in preparation for the Africa Club Championship.

“We have roped in young players and we are still winning which is a plus for us,” he said.

Chelsea Drifters captain Bridget Reilly commended the team’s strong relationships on and off the field.

“Our team has been playing together for quite a number of years now,” she said.

“We are all very good friends on and off the field and we were excited to win the league as we are the oldest team all of us are ex National hockey players.

“I feel our experience gave us the edge over our competitors and the fact that we pride ourselves with keeping fit,” said Reilly. She added that they prepared well for the season.

“We wanted to win at the beginning of the season and we backed ourselves to do so.

“Our team also traveled to East London in August and played in the South African Masters Interprovincial tournaments where we won a bronze medal.”