Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
Bulawayo Volleyball Association is set to host the third leg of the national volleyball league at White City Stadium volleyball courts on the weekend of September 24 and 25.
Bulawayo will be hosting the tournament after it was previously hosted by Harare, Victoria Falls and Masvingo.
The tournament is for both men and women.
On the men’s side the participating teams are Highlanders (Bulawayo), Shalom Ballers (Vic Falls), NABA (Harare), Midlands State University (MSU), Harare City, Chimoio (Bulawayo), Rhinos (Harare), Blue Eagles, Ruwa.
The women’s section has Manyame (Harare), Telone (Harare), Midlands State University, Harare City, Shalom Ballers (Vic Falls) and Chimoio (Vic Falls).
The top ranked teams in provincial leagues have automatic qualification to the national league and other teams fill up remaining slots through play offs.
Bulawayo Volleyball Association vice chairperson Munyaradzi Chigudu said they are looking forward to hosting the national league as it will bring an advantage to Bulawayo clubs who will be playing at home.
“It’s an advantage for our BVA teams who will be at home with home support, it’s also a boost to us as an association, marketing the sport trying to reach the corporate world,” said Chigudu.
One of the best volleyball clubs in the city, Highlanders is doing well in the national league games they have played and Chigudu believes the other local teams can get inspiration from them.
“Highlanders is doing well in the national league as much as they are leading the pack in our local league, I think the rest of the local teams can get inspiration from them,” said Chigudu.
Winners of the national league will go on to play in the Zone Six games, which is a regional tournament featuring teams from Sadc region countries.
Chigudu also said they are appealing for sponsorship from the corporate world as they aim to grow and develop the game.
“We have international referees, two resident here in Bulawayo so the inspiration for development is there, what is lacking in my point of view is corporate involvement but us we are actually developing,” said Chigudu.
He added: “We would want to have the corporate world more involved in our things, not necessarily them assisting but we need the sponsorship but them just coming in on board to witness what we will be doing and as we go we can then make some agreements.”
The deputy chairperson also encouraged volleyball fans to come and cheer for their local teams and witness the elite league of Zimbabwe as they will also see how other teams are nurturing their teams.
“We have national team select players in these clubs, so people should come and see for themselves a very exciting tournament and the sporting and corporate worlds will be inspired,” he said
After the national league, Bulawayo Volleyball Association will host their league finals.
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