Beach volleyball for inaugural tourney

Sports Reporter
TWELVE men and women beach volleyball teams are expected to converge at Hellenic Sports Club for the inaugural Heroes tournament to be held on Monday.
The tournament will see each category featuring six teams and they will be divided into two pools of three with the top two teams in both men and women’s sections progressing to the semi-finals.
The event is being organised by the Harare Volleyball Association and tournament director, Robert Njerere, said the competition is open to players from other provinces.
“It will feature almost all registered top beach volleyball players and it’s a one-day event.
“We have Progress Gasa, who played in the youth championships, from Masvingo. And we have the usual players, Nyashadzashe Takawira, Kudakwashe Chizema, Viola Muchaona and Persuade Gwaba.
“Basically it’s the inaugural event for commemoration of the Heroes Day since we introduced beach volleyball two years ago. We have seen it fit to have a national event featuring beach volleyball teams.
“This year may not have many players representing other provinces but we hope once the tournament is there it will attract players from other provinces.”
Njerere said they have come up with the veterans’ category that will feature the current and former administrators and players who have contributed to the sport over the years.
“Because of the nature of the tournament we are going to have the veterans’ category.
“The likes of Martin Dururu will play together with the current administrators such as Chris Chivinge and Robert Ziracha, who was president of the ZVA.
“He transformed volleyball in the early days, he has really done a lot for the sport, so he will play in the exhibition match,” said Njerere.
The tournament director said they were expecting good competition as some of the players that competed in the world championships are going to take part.
“We have been a bit quiet on our local beach volleyball front because of a number of trips, so we are happy that some of these players who went for those trips will take part and the experience and exposure they got abroad will help increase competition,” said Njerere.
Njerere said there will be various prizes including cash prizes for the winners of the tournament.