adminMzingaye Sibanda Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE women’s volleyball national team coach Vulindlela Moyo is upbeat about his team’s chances of doing well in the next stage of the World Cup qualifiers after winning Group K sub-zonal championships in Lilongwe, Malawi, last Friday. The women’s team had a good tournament dismantling the hosts Malawi 3-0 in the first match before getting a hard fought 3-2 victory over Zambia and beating Namibia 3-1.
Moyo expressed satisfaction with the superb performance in the qualifiers but said there are still some grey areas to work on, if they are to repeat their heroics in the next stage.
“The team played well, we planned for the games properly, since we didn’t have enough time to prepare or play friendly matches.
“We have to work on grey areas before the next stage, I’m positive we will progress,” said Moyo.
According to reports from Malawi, Zimbabwe’s match against Zambia was rated as the best encounter of the tournament.
Moyo described it as a hard fought victory.
“The level of competition was very high especially the game against Zambia as we won 3-2 on a decider, it was a difficult match,” said Moyo.
Moyo went on to praise the balance of the team but expects to beef up the squad with two or three players before their trip to Zambia in October.
Coach Moyo said he is using the open door policy in team selection as he selects players on merit, as he has players from as far as South Africa.
The team had South Africa-based trio of Rejoice Masusu, Prenade Makumbokurega and Kudzai Chareka.
For the individual awards in the women’s category Viola Muchoona was crowned the most valuable player, as teammate Nomagugu Dube was voted best setter while Media Mafuta was named the best blocker of the tournament.
While in the men’s category Botswana-based utility, Bruce Mpofu was voted the most valuable player with Simbarashe Chidziwa the tournament’s best server and the libero’s prize went to Muphrey Chindumo.
Zimbabwe men’s team head coach Artwell Gororo conceded that experienced players will be called up for the next stage as he had given a lot of rookies’ some game time at the qualifiers.
The teams arrived back home on Monday and are now set for the next round whose top two teams will qualify for the continental finals to decide who travels to Europe next year.
Online Reporter