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Shingai Dhlamini

JOSEPH Dzimati was recently voted in as chairman of the Bulawayo Volleyball Association.

This was confirmed by Munyaradzi Chigudu who was retained as the secretary-general of the association. He said this was done at the organisation’s annual general meeting.

Dzimati replaced William Mazviro who moved to Harare.

The elected executive has Dzimati, top volleyball match official and coach Bekezela Ndlovu as vice-chairperson, with her brief being competitions. Ndlovu is also in charge of administration.

Ntombizodwa Maseko was elected vice-chairman responsible for technical and development issues. Philani Khumalo is the association’s new treasurer. The committee members are Nomsa Moyo, Tariro Ushe and Alex Mukoka.

The volleyball season got its first serve when at the Pre-Season Tournament held last weekend at BAC where four local teams took part in the event. 

Highlanders, Chimoio, Lycans and Vipers are the men’s teams that took part. 

Three women’s clubs Lycans, Vipers and Chimoio participated.

Highlanders took the honours in the men’s category and in the women’s Vipers.

“We have a corporate social league existing but not structured. Now it has its own Pre-Season Tournament which will be held this month and the venue is yet to be announced. CBZ, RBZ, School Of Mines and Zesa will play in the league where the rules are a bit relaxed unlike in the Premier AND Provincial League.

“We have engaged Naph, Nash and Zitisu since last year. We want to bring them on board to have a schools league. Our aim is to incorporate Zitisu (Zimbabwe Tertiary Institutions Sports Union) into the Premier League in which we can confirm that Nust and Bulawayo Polytechnic College are interested. Our league will be bigger in terms of numbers this year,” said Chigudu.

Last year we had seven men’s teams this year we expect 11.

The season is expected to start at the end of this month.

Beach volleyball activities have also been lined up.

The association usually faces problems with venues. They are scarce and owners charge prohibitive figures.

Raiders’ seniors’ women’s team will represent Bulawayo in the Premier League and in the men’s Highlanders and Chimoio will be the province’s representatives.

Uniformed forces whose participation in the provincial league is confirmed are ZPS (Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services), ZRP (Zimbabwe Republic Police) Raiders and Unit Fairbridge.

“Challenges we are facing are that we do not have lucrative sponsorship though the participation of corporate teams and their involvement in volleyball activities means we might have some funds as an association,” said Chigudu.