adminZimbabwe fielded two teams in the boys and girls categories at the continental event and both teams put up a good show as they booked their places at the World Cup to be held in Cyprus.
In the boys’ category, the pair of Panashe Mhandu and Rufaro Choto beat Gabon’s Malibala Chancel Romeo and Ndjongoi Phillipe Romeo in the semi-final 2-0.
They lost 1-2 in the finals against Congo Brazzaville. It was the same story for the girls’ team of Progress Gasa and Princess Moyo as they defeated Ndoungou Anais Gabriella and
Pembe Mvotto Aimed Anouchka Zelia of Gabon 2-0 in the last four before going down to Itoua Ossolo Johfrat Verdict and Edazoula Laurcie Chrilchill of Congo Brazzaville 0-2 in the final.
Zimbabwe Volleyball Association first vice president Chris Chivinge hailed the team for their achievement and said this will be the first time to have a local team playing at the global event.
“Its historic, the greatest result that volleyball has ever posted. We are grateful to the youth teams for emerging the best under very difficult circumstances from training to preparations to travel. We are working in an environment of limited resources and can only say this is the time for the corporate world and generality of Zimbabwe at large to actually provide more support to beach volleyball,” said Chivinge.
Chivinge said the two teams had surpassed their expectations as the sport is still at its developing stages.
Meanwhile, local universities are expected to converge at the Chinhoyi University of Technology and Bindura University to hold the Zimbabwe University Sports Association Zonal
Games ahead of the tertiary institutions’ finals set for next month.
Participants will fight for honours in netball, volleyball, darts, hockey, karate, cricket, basketball, rugby, soccer, tennis and handball.
The top three teams in each discipline will progress to the Zusa national finals set for May 3 where university representatives will be selected for the Zimbabwe Tertiary Institutions Sports Union Games which will come at the end of that month. University of Zimbabwe director of sports and recreation and North Zone chairman Life Chemhere said the Games are expected to bring the best out of the teams that will see the top three competing in the finals.
“We are expecting fireworks this time around because there are neither small nor big teams judging by the recent performances at the track and field competition where UZ retained their title as champions.
The participating teams are UZ, Nust, Midlands State University, Catholic University, Harare Institute of Technology, Women’s University of Africa, Bindura University of Science Education, Africa University, Chinhoyi University, Lupane State University and the Great Zimbabwe University,” he said.
leeroy