ZIMBABWE is out of the All-Africa Games volleyball competition after failing in the qualifiers that were held in Gaborone, Botswana, from May 4 to 8.
BY FORTUNE MBELE/Sakheleni Nxumalo
Region Five qualifiers’ hosts Botswana and Mozambique are through to the All-Africa Games showcase to be held in Congo Brazzaville in September after coming out tops in both the men and women’s categories.
Zimbabwe Volleyball Association secretary-general Ringisai Mapondera was a disappointed man yesterday.
“We did not qualify and the teams arrived on Saturday,” Mapondera said.
Only four countries, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia took part in the Region Five qualifiers.
Both the Zimbabwe men and women’s teams came third.
Women’s coach Vulindlela Moyo yesterday said his team lost 0-3 to Mozambique and 1-3 to Botswana and beat Zambia 3-1.
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Meanwhile, Spartans took advantage of national champions Railstars’ inactivity to open a two-point lead at the summit of the Bulawayo Volleyball Association (BVA) league after registering two wins in Week 2 action at Raylton Sports Club on Saturday.
Reigning national champions Railstars were inactive because the bulk of their players were away in Botswana.
On Saturday, Spartans beat Unit Fairbridge 3-1 in their first game before outclassing Lupane State University 3-0 in their second match to take their points tally to nine from three matches.
The BVA league matches are played fortnightly and in the first week of action Spartans accounted for Luveve Academy 3-0 while in other results Cats beat The Great Churchill (TGC) 3-0, Luveve Academy (Luvac) bounced back to dismiss Lupane State University (LSU) 3-1 in their second game, Railstars overcame Cats 3-0 and LSU were on the receiving end in their second game going down 0-3 to Cats.
LSU and TGC are the only two teams that are yet to taste victory since the start of the league programme after registering losses again on Saturday.
LSU lost 1-3 to Addicts in their first game of the weekend before losing their fourth match of the current campaign to Spartans while TGC went down 0-3 to Addicts.
The ladies league competition got underway on Saturday with powerhouse Zimbabwe Republic Police Raiders assuming top spot on the log after registering a 3-0 victory over LSU and a 3-0 walkover win over Highlanders.
LSU recovered from their loss to the policewomen to dismiss Luvac 3-0 in their second game and sit in position two on the log with four points to their credit while log leaders ZRP are on six points.
