Ashly Dhani
Veronica Gwaze
While most of sport remains on ice, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Zimbabwe Volleyball Association (ZVA) has already begun planning for the future, starting with preparations for the 2020/21 international season.
The ZVA has since announced its senior and junior national teams, which happens to be in compliance with the requirements of the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Recreation that stipulates that all Volleyball national teams for that particular year should be submitted by mid-year.
While other sport codes like motor sport, cricket and swimming were graded as low risk and given the greenlight for resume, other disciplines like volleyball, netball, football remain banned.
Some of the big names to make the cut include Steve Musabaya, Simbarashe Mutambirwa, Tafadzwa Keni, Naslin Negomo and Douglas Choto (who currently plays under Cyprus’ Vakiflar Sports Club).
ZVA national administrator, Masimba Mushangwe, said the players will be the first options for any national assignments during the period 2020-2021.
“It is a Ministry requirement to have a standing national team, and so this is simply compliance.
“Second, we want to avoid a situation, whereby these guys only get together when we have an upcoming tournament,” he said.
Mushangwe said the volleyball national teams will be re-grouping at certain intervals even if there is no tournament at hand.
It is through these camps that the squads will be trimmed to the required numbers.
“These guys will be training at certain intervals, meaning to say that they will be going into camp often.
“This also means they always have to be ready, and the announcement also gives us enough time to screen and pick the best team.
“We also want avoid a situation whereby players are forced to gel or click at tournaments” he said.
Online Reporter