Emotional return home for hockey player

Nelson chartered accountant Lu Khani turned the clock back as he competed at the Hockey World Cup in South Africa recently.

Bulawayo-born Lu spent 12 years in Cape Town before emigrating to Nelson in 2019 with his New Zealand bride Michaela.

The Zimbabwean returned to Cape Town, the hockey venue, for the first time since as part of the New Zealand Masters over-40 side.

A dream result would have been facing South Africa in the final as Lu had played club or provincial hockey with seven members of that team.

They powered through the group stages and beat Singapore in a thrilling quarter-final.

But the Kiwis went down to Australia in the semi-final and then lost 6-3 to England in the play-off for third place.

The 40-year-old wasn’t downcast though.

“What a journey and I am proud to say we finished as the fourth best team in the world in our grade,” declares Lu.

A special highlight was being a part of the haka they performed before each match.
There was no rush to get home as Lu and Michaela celebrated getting married in Cape Town eight years ago.

They also fitted in a trip to Zimbabwe.

“The people are great there but the economy isn’t,” says Lu, who now lives in Tāhunanui.

The mid-fielder is already eyeing up his next masters’ assignment with his teammates, - the three match Trans-Tasman series in Australia next year.