Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
MUREHWA-based St Collins College showed their prowess when snatching silver at the annual Mzuzu international volleyball contest held in Malawi last weekend.
It was the schoolboys’ debut in this well-known tournament, which is exclusive to clubs within Zones V and VI countries.
And they showed they were fully prepared to take on the best when shoving aside every hurdle before them on their way to the final, where they lost to Kampala International University of Tanzania.
Kampala International University boasts players from different nationalities and they are regarded as giants of this sport across the continent. Still, they never had it their own way, with St Collins battling hard before finally losing 3-1 in a closely-fought tie.
With mostly Under-20 boys in the team, coach Simbarashe Charakupa’s side are in the Mashonaland East Volleyball Association League (MEVA), where they are doing remarkably well, topping the log after going unbeaten after 18 games. They are chasing promotion into the national league.
Team manager Blessedennis Ausha hailed the boys for flying the Zimbabwean flag.
“The success is really encouraging, especially given that we were just first-timers in this tournament,” said Ausha.
“There were over 12 teams from across the Zone V and VI countries and we really showed up.
“The boys were super-charged, taking each challenge with incredible bravery.
“They made the winners sweat for the gold and in the end, we settled for silver. As first-timers, we are really happy to have been able to go out there and give a good fight to carry ourselves in the thick of super competition and squeeze silver out of it.
“It is an encouraging sign and quite motivating for the boys. We have a young team and the boys have the whole volleyball future ahead of them.”
Three of St Collins players managed to win individual accolades as well, with Charles Chitedzi walking away with the Best Outside Hitter prize, the Best Middle Blocker went to Nigel Banda and Nigel Kadumba getting the Best Setter star of the tournament.
“The awards will go a long way in inspiring the youngsters going forward,” added Ausha.
“We are very proud to have been able to represent the country with such honour and dignity.”
On their way to the final, St Collins had brushed aside Lilongwe Spikers 3-1, Wolves 3-0 Chibavi Smashers and Moyale 3-1 and 3-0 respectively.
All the four teams they faced in their pool are from Malawi.
They then came face-to-face with Kamuzu Barracks whom they dominated 3-0 in the semi-final before losing to Kampala International University in the final.
