Youth Sport Exchange Programme opens

THE Zimbabwe Volleyball Association (ZVA) has opened entries for the Youth Sport Exchange Programme (YSEP), which is set for later in August.

The latest programme will have participants spending 10 months in neighbouring Zambia and Norway. This is a skills impartation programme with volunteers drawn from any volleyball stakeholders locally.

The prime aim of the YSEP programme is to enhance young sport athletes’ personal development through cultural exchange.

In their announcement, ZVA said those interested must be aged between 20 and 30.

“The Zimbabwe Volleyball Association in partnership with Norwegian Volleyball (NIF) is recruiting four participants who will be attached to sports organisations in Norway and Zambia from August 2024 to June 2025. Suitable candidates must be active in volleyball in Zimbabwe,” said ZVA.

The programme also calls on interested participants to be willing to work with children, youths, coaches and active leaders.

ZVA president Mxolisi Ndlovu also confirmed the latest development.

“The participants take part in various volleyball activities for 10 months. The aim is to acquire as much knowledge so that when they finish their attachments, they come back home to coach our development sides.

“But, let me emphasise that one does not necessarily have to be a volleyball player to get into the programme but is open to anyone involved in any aspect of the game,” said Ndlovu.

He said this was an exchange programme that has opened a lot of opportunities for young volleyball members and ZVA has done well in as far as cultural exchange and skills transfer is concerned.

ZVA teams’ manager, Farai Mboto said their links with the Norwegian Volleyball community is beneficial.

“This programme has become a strong brand within the Zimbabwe Volleyball Association, which has seen almost six participants deployed from Zimbabwe to Norway and Zambia.

“Currently, three participants are in Zambia with one lady in Norway. Zimbabwe is hosting four participants, three in Harare and one in Masvingo.

“This is an exchange programme that has opened a lot of opportunities for young volleyball members, and it has done well in as far as cultural exchange and skills trailer is concerned,” he said.

He said in their recruitment, so far, 14 participants had already submitted their applications which attests to the value and momentum the programme has gathered in about three years since inception.

Last year ZVA sent four players to attend a 10-month training stint in Zambia and Kenya.

Players that went to Zambia are Proud Nyoni and Quincy Mudenda who play for Highlanders Volleyball Club.

Harare based players, Progress Gasa and Sibusisiwe Dlala of Midlands were sent to Kenya. — @NkosieLegend