The School of Excellence Hockey Club (SOEHC) will carry Namibia’s hopes at the 2026 Africa Cup of Club Champions (ACCC), set to take place in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 24 to 31 January.
The continental showpiece will be hosted at St John’s College and will feature some of Africa’s top club sides, with SOEHC earning their place after clinching the 2025 Outdoor Hockey Men’s Premier League title.
A 17-member squad will represent Namibia in a competitive field that includes Shakai and Port Fouad of Egypt, Kampala from Uganda, Ghana Revenue Authority, Hotspurs of Zambia, as well as Bulawayo Hockey Club and Hippo Hockey Club from Zimbabwe.
SOEHC director Erwin Handura said the team’s preparations have gone well despite limited match practice ahead of departure.
“Preparation has been positive overall, although the players have not had the opportunity to play any friendly matches before leaving for Zimbabwe,” Handura said.
“We do, however, have a friendly match lined up for 22 January against a Zimbabwean side, which should help the team settle before the tournament begins,” he said.
The ACCC marks a significant return to continental competition for Namibian club hockey. Namibia last competed at the event in 2003 in Pretoria, South Africa, when both the UNAM men’s and women’s teams, coached by Handura, took part. The country previously hosted the tournament in 1998 in Windhoek.