“We are so delighted to receive such an invitation; this is a big boost for our players and the game at large. But we still need the support of well-wishers,” Kaushik Doshi, Tanzania Hockey Association (THA) Secretary, said in a Tanzania Daily News report.

Tanzania has officially been invited — for the first time — to participate in the Nile Hockey Tournament, which will take place in Cairo, Egypt this April. Egypt, Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan will participate in the tournament alongside Tanzania.

“Corporate wishing to boost THA further are encouraged to come forward,” Doshi added.

One of the last formal competitions that teams from the Tanzania Hockey Association participated in was last December’s 34th Gurunanak Hockey Tournament.

According to the Tanzania Daily News, the Nile Hockey Tournament was created to encourage the growth of hockey across the continent. The African Hockey Federation — which currently hosts 17 member nations — was created for the same purpose.

Last year, in the men’s and women’s categories, South Africa took home the Hockey African Cup for Nations held in Nairobi.