ZVA to continue with regional competitions

DESPITE failing to send three Zimbabwe national beach volleyball teams to international competitions in the past few months, the Zimbabwe Volleyball Association (ZVA) says it will continue sending teams to regional competitions.

DESPITE failing to send three Zimbabwe national beach volleyball teams to international competitions in the past few months, the Zimbabwe Volleyball Association (ZVA) says it will continue sending teams to regional competitions.

SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER

This has raised questions on whether it would be necessary for the teams to take part in beach volleyball qualifiers if they are not going to compete and progress to the next stage because of a lack of funds.

The Zimbabwe Under-21 beach volleyball team of Keith Machakaire and Douglas Choto failed to travel to Cyprus for the World Championships that took place from last Tuesday ending yesterday.

The association needed $15 000 to send the two to the competition.

In June, ZVA failed to raise funds to send four Under-23 players to the World Championships in Poland despite the two teams making it to the next stage.

In April, the Zimbabwe Beach Volleyball team failed to travel to Ghana for the Youth Olympic qualifiers also due to financial constraints.

ZVA secretary-general Ringisai Mapondera yesterday told Southern Eye that lack of funds had been the major problem.

“The teams didn’t go because of lack of finances. However, the teams will continue taking part in regional competitions. Even though we did not send the team to Cyprus, the FIVB (Federation of International Volleyball) is aware that beach volleyball is active in Zimbabwe,”he said.

“Unlike other neighbouring countries like Botswana and South Africa we take part in regional competitions so our country is on the map. We are also likely to get grants and programmes that will help develop the sport because we are showing that despite lack of funds we have interest in the sport.”

Mapondera said they were struggling to get funds because of the economic situation in the country.

“We are not in isolation. Our problem is related to the country which is facing economic challenges. Companies do not have excess to spare because some are even struggling to pay their workers. We also do not get money from the government because it is not there. Maybe sport is no longer a priority in this country, but we have to keep on moving as an association,” he said.

He said they were hoping that they would be able to raise funds to send teams to take part in other regional competitions so that the players are not demoralised.