LACK OF INDOOR FACILITIES HAMPERS VOLLEYBALL

Clive Thabo Dube
Sports Reporter

HIGHLANDERS Volleyball Club coach Sikhumbuzo Gwala citing his ‘dissatisfaction’ with the neglect of sports infrastructure said lack of facilities affects the smooth running of Volleyball in the country.

Sikhumbuzo Gwala said sport is an important tool of uniting the youth and underlined the importance of prioritizing sporting facilities.

“We are not satisfied with the current standards of Volleyball in the country, particularly in Bulawayo. We have one in-door court at Khanyisile. So when it rains, we find it hard to play our beloved game because we usually play at white City.” He said.

Gwala placed the mandate of infrastructural development at the doorsteps of the government and urged the country’s leaders to unite with business tycoons to be involved in Volleyball and surgically operate the sport code.

“The government and the corporate world really has to come in, and support us. There wont be any proper development or growth without sponsorship. Good facilities is what is lacking and financially strapped as we are, we have to hire some venues like the Trade Fair ground to play our other matches.” Added Gwala.

He said, if the government gets involved, Volleyball will surely reach its peak.

Chimoio Volleyball Club chairperson Stan Manduna, said indoor courts are limited and the one available at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) is expensive.

“Indoor volleyball courts are quite limited and ZITF is very expensive. It therefore posses a challenge when we play at a higher level. In the Zone VI games, the players will be at a disadvantage as they are not consistently exposed to such facilities and at the end of the day, they perform poorly.” Said Manduna.

Zim GBC News engaged the Zimbabwe Volleyball Association (ZVA) President Mxolisi Ndlovu on the matter and he said the association has no sporting stadia of its own and encourages the facility owners to see to the development and maintenance of the venues.

“We do not own any facility as an association and we hope the facility owners will upgrade as we see the sport gradually growing. For an example our premier league has grown to 14 teams both men and women. All the provinces are active and we are working on increasing that number.” Said Ndlovu.

Sports in most countries has changed the economic fortunes of many-a-sports personnel and is an avenue of keeping away the youths from crime. Many African countries have other sports codes retardant as they are overshadowed by football.

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