adminTHE Support Unit men’s Volleyball team toiled hard, but were soundly beaten during their maiden African Club Championship campaign in Tunisia recently.
The Zimbabwean volleyball powerhouses lost all their five pool games as the gulf in class between themselves and the top sides in the continent was brutally exposed.
The police outfit was placed in a pool D containing Algerian side Setif, KAVC of Uganda, Prisons from Kenya and Somoha of Egypt.
Support Unit suffered identical 0-3 losses to Setif, Somoha, Prisons (Kenya) and Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya.
They fared better against KAVC, narrowly losing 2-3.
Support Unit finished on position 20 out of the 24 teams at the tournament, but coach Itsalang Abu Basutu insists the continental outing made his team better.
“It was a good and painful experience. The difference between us and our opponents was lack of experience.
“It was tough playing against people who have been playing at this level for five to six years,” said Basutu.
The respected coach added that the onus is now on his players to maintain the workaholic manner with which they went about business in Tunisia.
“The standard has to be maintained. It is good that the boys have seen it for themselves rather than being told how things are liken on the grand stage.
“I hope when we say let’s work hard they will understand what we will be talking about,” said Basutu, who is also the national team assistant coach.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter