Story by Tichaona Kurewa
In line with the Government’s broader drive to increase nationwide sports participation, volleyball coaches from Matabeleland North Province are undergoing a three-day refresher course in Victoria Falls.
The initiative forms part of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which targets an increase in national participation in sports and recreational activities from 15% in 2020 to 27% by 2025.
In support of this goal, the Zimbabwe Volleyball Association (ZIVA) is leading a comprehensive outreach programme which has been met with enthusiasm from local coaches.
“We are grateful to our coaches they are deepening our understanding of the game. We are ready to share the knowledge we have gained here with those back home. There are many dynamics in volleyball. This training is essential for us to catch up and align with global trends,” a participant said.
“We thank ZIVA for this opportunity. It should help us play better, compete better, and hopefully see more players from our province join the national team,” another participant said.
Both ZIVA and the National Association of Primary School Heads (NAPH) have described the training as an important element in promoting sports tourism.
“We are encouraging all provincial Heads in Charge and their associations to conduct similar courses nationwide. Our aim is to develop volleyball from the grassroots level to strengthen the national team. This isn’t just about schools, we want corporates, institutions, and communities to get involved,” Volleyball, NAPH national head in charge, Sifiso Buhlungu said.
“We chose Victoria Falls for this initiative because we see Matabeleland North as a key player in growing sports tourism. But we can’t achieve that without empowering coaches with strong fundamentals. When these coaches return to their schools and clubs, they’ll be better equipped to train athletes and raise the profile of volleyball. This will lead to higher competitiveness and better quality in the game. As an association, we’re committed to ensuring that no one is left behind,” Zimbabwe Volleyball Association vice chairperson, Sonny Kgaboe said.
Matabeleland North is represented in the Zimbabwe Premier Volleyball League by two clubs, Shalom Ballers Volleyball Club and Crocs Volleyball Club.
