Center News Sports Hub
MASVINGO- Masvingo’s Octopus Hockey Club is earning attention as a community-driven beacon for talent development, both in schools and beyond.
Established in 2015 by the late Tafara Vhudzijena and Paul Daniels, the club was built to nurture players from high schools and those who have left school, turning raw potential into skilled athletes who can compete on local and national stages.
The club’s ambitions sit within Masvingo’s Inter City League, a competition that brings together teams from the Lowveld, such as Hippo Hockey Club, and from Bulawayo’s BHC.
This year, however, Octopus opted out of the league due to financial hurdles—registration and turf fees proving a barrier to participation.
The decision, while disappointing for local fans, is a sign of broader financial realities facing grassroots sport in the province and the club’s resilience in pursuing development outside traditional competitions.
Among the talents on the lookout for national and international hockey scouts is a line-up of young stars.
On the boys’ side, Anopa Shoshore, Merlin Msipa, Norman T. Muchacha, Blessed Hlungwani, Washington Mufambisi, and Craig Taru have emerged as players to watch.
For the girls, Shannon Chikukwa, Monalisa Bayani, and Nomatter Joseph are making waves and drawing attention from coaches and selectors seeking the next generation of Masvingo excellence.
The club’s journey from its challenging lockdown start to a thriving program is a story of grit and growth.
The head coach, Takunda Munetsi, affectionately known as coach Styles, told Center News Sports that he began his stewardship in 2019, during the Covid-19 lockdown, facing the daunting task of rebuilding a squad that had scattered.
From an initial five players, the club now boasts more than 20 players across boys’ and girls’ teams.
Local schools have become crucial partners, with fundraising tournaments fueling the purchase of club kits and helping to expand recruitment.
“This year, Octopus opened its doors wider by inviting Zim Hockey Select players and top clubs for a three-day hockey series, a valuable learning opportunity that yielded three club wins and a narrow 2–1 defeat to the Zimbabwe Select men’s team. The experiences drew lessons from respected players such as Gift Chamunorwa, Asme Mpofu, and Anold Mpofu, whose guidance helped sharpen Octopus’s competitive edge.” he said.
Like many grass-roots programs, Octopus faces a range of challenges. Limited facilities, a proper hockey turf or field remains scarce in Masvingo alongside financial constraints within the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) that complicate grassroots development and talent identification.
Exposure remains limited, and coaching resources are stretched, making sustained progress a constant uphill task.
To overcome these barriers, the club and its supporters say several steps are needed.
“There is need for investment in infrastructure to build more fields, robust grassroots programs to identify and nurture talent in schools and communities, expanded coaching and training resources, broader marketing to raise the sport’s profile, and strengthened partnerships and sponsorships to secure critical funding.” Munetsi said.
Looking ahead, Octopus remains steadfast in its mission.
“The club’s leadership stresses that progress isn’t measured only in trophies, but in the character and cohesion built within players and the community,” he said.
The coach offered unwavering encouragement to students and parents to support the sport.
“Every shift and every practice is a chance to get better; mistakes are a step toward mastery; and the relationships formed on the rink are the lasting payoff. “You’re building skills and friendships here that last a lifetime,” he said.
“For parents and the broader Masvingo community, the message is clear your support is not just about today’s games, but about laying the foundation for a future in which hockey takes its rightful place in the province’s sporting landscape,” he added.
Munetsi said, hockey teaches bravery, teamwork, and resilience life lessons that extend far, if investment and collaboration come together.
Octopus Hockey Club believes Masvingo can become a powerhouse of talent, community development leaving a lasting legacy for hockey in the province.
