Makhosazana Hadebe
THE Zimbabwe Premier Volleyball League season is heading for an exciting climax, with teams from across the country set to converge in Harare next weekend for the season-ending play-offs.
The two-day event, which gets underway on Saturday, will feature the country’s top men’s and women’s teams battling for honours, with the competition set to progress through the semi-finals before Sunday’s finals.
The season will officially come to an end on Sunday afternoon with an awards ceremony to recognise outstanding performers during the campaign.
League chairperson Rudo Charuma said preparations were at an advanced stage, with excitement
building up ahead of the decisive weekend.
“We are down to the final stretch, just one week before the quarter-finals, and the energy is building in Harare,” she said.
Charuma said the participating teams were focused and determined to fight for a place in the finals, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the season.
“It’s exciting to see teams from across the country stepping up, especially the Bulawayo men’s team Chimoio holding strong at number two and Crocs from Victoria Falls proving they belong among the best in the land.
“The Southern Region is showing great potential, and on the women’s side, Southern Aces from Masvingo and Diamonds from the Midlands are making their mark,” she said.
Southern Region volleyball once held its own with clubs like Blue Ribbon Raiders, Sparrows
Thabani, Highlanders, Bulawayo Raiders, Railstars and Unit Fairbridge, the 1993 Zone Six champions, dominating the scene.
The men’s competition will feature Black Mambas, Black Rhinos, Chimoio, Crocs, CUT, D’Knights,
GZU Elders, Gwanda Spikers, NABA, Rebels, Shalom, St Collins, Thunders and UZ Wolves.
In the women’s category, the competing teams are Black Mambas, Black Rhinos, Chapangu,
Chimoio, CUT, Diamonds, D’Knights, Harare City, Raven Claw, Southern Aces and UZ Wolves.
While teams from the northern part of the country have dominated the numbers, the ZPVL
chairperson Charuma believes geographical representation will count for little once the competition
gets underway.
“Even though the north is still leading in numbers, where teams come from will not change
anyone’s chances of winning.
“This is not about where you come from, but about who shows up, who fights and who holds their
nerves when it counts. We are all waiting to see who takes the trophy,” she said.
