Great Zimbabwe Talent Identification Programme on

Sport
ZIMBABWE Volleyball Association says provinces need to get more serious on the Great Zimbabwe Talent Identification Programme to avoid programme revocation by the Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB).

THE ZIMBABWE Volleyball Association says provinces need to get more serious on the Great Zimbabwe Talent Identification Programme to avoid programme revocation by the Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB).

Sukoluhle Mthethwa Sports Reporter

ZVA says if the programme is not implemented, Fivb will pull out.

The aim of the programme is mainly developmental, with the main focus being on the development stages of volleyball for children from eight-10 years, monitoring them and sending them to training camps during school holidays.

ZVA secretary-general Ringisai Mapondera yesterday urged provinces to continue working hard on the programme which will help the country in nurturing talent at grassroots level.

“The talent identification programme is an eight-year programme, but we are going to have an inspector coming to see how far the country has gone in its implementation.

“It will be very embarrassing if the FIVB was to pull out its support. The programme is very good because it is a scientific identification of players.

“If the players are identified and then groomed, we will be picking up our national teams from the lot,” he said.

He said they will be advised next month on when the inspector would be coming to conduct his assessment.

The programme has also seen the establishment of centres of excellence around the country for talent identification with Eveline High School (Bulawayo), Mufakose 2 High (Harare), Hermann Gmeiner Secondary School in Mashonaland Central and Pamushana in Masvingo as some of centres.

The first Great Zimbabwe Volleyball Talent Identification training camp was held at Mudzi District Centre of Excellence, Masarakufa Schools, 200km east of Harare in 2011.

Thirty seven players selected from the district’s six zones were brought to be trained in volleyball and life skills.

Meanwhile, Mapondera said they were happy with the 2013 season although funds continue to be one of the major reasons hindering the growth of the sport in the country.