ZIMBABWE Volleyball Association secretary-general Ringisai Mapondera says clubs have ample time to prepare for the Region V Volleyball Club Championships which will be held in Mozambique in December.
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Stanbic Thunder men’s and Support Unit women’s teams are guaranteed slots after emerging winners in the national league last year.
Zimbabwean clubs have over the years failed to live up to expectations in the competition with Jewels men’s team the last club to have won the competition formerly known as the Zone VI Club Championships, in 2002.
Mapondera yesterday told Southern Eye Sport that the clubs will represent the country in the competition while saying they will use the national league to prepare for the regional showcase.
“We have volleyball clubs that will compete against other clubs from the region in Mozambique this year. With the national league starting at the end of this month we hope they will use it to prepare. This also gives the club the chance to look for funds. The clubs have up to December to prepare for travelling to Mozambique,” he said.
He said they had come up with the idea that teams that excel in the national league represent the country the following year.
“We came up with that idea because we are avoiding a situation where you hear that teams were starving while there were in another country. We want teams to get funds and then work on their players while there is still time,” he said.
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Support Unit Black and Black Rhinos men’s teams could also take part in the Region V Championships subject to confirmation from the zone after coming second and third in the national league last year.
University of Zimbabwe and ZRP Harare (women) could also feature in the competition if the zone confirms how many clubs a country can send.
The national league was due to start on May 10-11, but has since been postponed on request of the clubs.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Under-21 Beach Volleyball men’s team is expected to leave the country today for the World Championships qualifiers in Mozambique this week.
Keith Machakaire from Churchill High School and Collen Peters from Cornway College are the country’s representatives who will fight for the slot for the World Championships to be held in Cyprus next month.
