Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO will next month host the Zone Six Volleyball Club Championship involving teams from nine countries.
The tournament will run from December 7-17 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Hall 3, and according to the Zimbabwe Volleyball Association (ZVA), 27 men and 23 women’s teams have expressed interest, although the maximum number to be allowed is 20 per category.
“Teams from nine countries have expressed interest in taking part. Normally we get the top two teams from the 10 countries in our zone, but because some countries will actually field one team or not show up, we end up having some countries fielding three or four teams and in some cases six teams. We have requested to field six teams. We expect representation from all, but one country in the zone after Namibia indicated they will not be taking part,” said ZVA spokesperson Tawanda Sithole.
He said the tournament was oversubscribed hence the increase in teams taking part to 20 from the traditional 16 per category.
“The whole games are oversubscribed right now. We are expecting 20 men’s teams and the same number for ladies, but in my discussion with the Zone (Six) secretary general, he actually said we have 27 men’s and 23 women’s teams that have shown interest. Traditionally we work with 16 teams, but because of interest generated around the games over the years in Zimbabwe, we tried to increase the number to 20, which is the maximum number any tournament can have,” said Sithole.
He said teams were expected to arrive for the tournament on December 7, with the technical meeting set for the following day.
Group stage competitions will be played from December 9-13, while the knockout stage starts on December 14 with the quarter-finals.
Zimbabwe last played host to the same games in 2005 and won the men’s category.
@skhumoyo2000
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