Beach volleyball 2012 Olympic hopes alive

beach volleyball teams having secured places in the continental zonal qualifiers.
Both teams remain contenders after cruising into the semi-finals during the Zone VI beach volleyball 2012 London Olympic qualifiers currently in Maputo, Mozambique.
The men upset Namibia 3-2 during their semi-final encounter with the team of top player Nyasha Takawira and Kudakwashe Chizema carrying the day for the Zimbabweans in the golden set.
During the competition, each country is represented by two teams, and play on a round-robin basis.
In the event of a 2-2 tie, then the teams clash in the golden set.
The women’s team had a comfortable win over Swaziland who they beat 3-1.
The first team comprising Viola Muchaoona and teammate Nomatter Mbizo won both their games while the other pair featuring Vuyiswa Dlomo and Christine Manyanya lost their first match but rose to the occasion during their second match which they won convincingly.
The continental zonal finals will be held sometime in October at a venue to be decided by the Confederation of African Volleyball from among the winners.
At least 20 country teams will participate during the zonal finals to choose the continent’s representatives to the 2012 London Olympics.
Zimbabwe began its campaign during the sub-zonal stage which was also held in Maputo and finished third in the women’s category and fourth in the men.
The women were expected to play Mozambique in the semi-final while the men face South Africa.
Zimbabwe Volleyball Association vice-president (technical) Erasmus Mupukuta received the news of the team’s qualification for the next stage with jubilation.
“It is a good result. We now have to put in more work and expose the players to more competition ahead of the zonal finals.
“The team has done the country proud and this amply demonstrates our ability to excel in beach volleyball as a nation,” said Mupukuta.
The team made the journey to Maputo by public transport via South Africa because of inadequate financial support. Plans are underway to popularise beach volleyball in the country with a number of Olympic-size courts having been built in rural areas as part of this initiative.