Chronicle Editor
Nkosilathi Sibanda
THERE will be more play and work for the local volleyball fraternity this year.
The Zimbabwe Volleyball Association (ZVA) president Mxolisi Ndlovu said this time it will be “business unusual.”
Ndlovu said they will start with the All-Africa Games whose qualifiers will be hosted in Harare from January 25-30.
The All-Africa Games, which are the continent’s biggest sporting extravaganza will be in Accra, Ghana in March.
The local association has already hit the ground running, as evidenced in their proposed calendar of events where the first major event was the player transfer window that opened on New Year’s day.
A look at the calendar of events points out that every month there will be an activity.
This weekend there is the training of safe sport champions set for Harare.
The programme was started four years ago with the aim of identifying issues that affect athletes, ranging from harassment and abuse as well as providing a conducive environment for athletes to showcase their talent.
On the last weekend of January, the ZVA is going to hold its first executive committee meeting.
The leadership is geared for the task at hand, according to Ndlovu.
“It is going to be business unusual this year. We have done our draft calendar of events which show how busy the year would be. We are ready to work,” he said.
In February, the much acclaimed Youth Sports Exchange Programme (YSEP) will be in Lusaka, Zambia.
This programme groups players and volunteers under the age of 25.
The youths then get exposure by touring countries such as Zambia, Kenya and Norway. The prime aim of the YSEP programme is to enhance young sport athletes’ personal development through cultural exchange.
In the same month, a coaches’ symposium will be held in Harare, followed by the Athletes Commission meeting, again in the capital city. The first player transfer window will close on March 31.
Players within the provincial leagues will undergo anti-doping courses and safe sport workshops.
One of the major tournaments of the year, the Zimbabwe Open is in Masvingo in the same month.
Of interest, will be the anti-corruption workshop on April 6, which is a first in the sport.
Competition among clubs will be revived with the hosting of the Independence Day Cup on April 18.
The National Premier League is scheduled to start in May, at a date to be announced.
In the second half of the year, notable events include the inter-provincial tournament set for August 24. In that month, ZVA will also be readying for the National Youth and Paralympic Games.
Competitions in line for the last quarter will be the Zone VI Club Championships, conclusion of the Premier Volleyball League and the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Games in Maputo, Mozambique.
In December, local teams hit the road to Botswana for the Zone V1 Club Indoor Championships.
The last planned competition of the year will be the Unity Day Championships on December 22. —@NkosieLegend
Online Reporter