The Sunday News
Simbarashe Dube Sports Reporter
THE journey of reviving Bulawayo’s fame as a powerhouse in volleyball began yesterday, with a two-day pre-season tournament being held at the Raylton Recreation Club. Compared to the previous year, this year’s turnout was huge with 12 men teams and seven women teams therefore making the cobwebs in the volleyball sport to finally come off.
In the men’s category, there was no particular winner in the previous year, as the final match between Railstars and Midlands State University (MSU), was declared a stalemate since the game was cut short with only one set to go.
From the teams participating, Railstars, Spartans and Highlanders are playing hosts to this event with UJ Powerhiters being the only team from Masvingo, while Cats, Eagles, Diamonds and MSU being represents Gweru and Jessie Mine, ZRP Gwanda Izihlobo being from Gwanda.
On day one of the tourney in the men’s category, MSU registered their first win, with a 2-0 triumph against Spartans while Railstars also fired warning shots when they got the better of Jessie Mine by also 2-0.
On the other side, Eveline lost 2-1 to ZRP Gwanda in the women’s segment, while the women’s defending champions, ZRP Raiders, won 2-1 against Gweru’s Diamonds.
William Mazviro the chairperson of the interim Bulawayo Volleyball Association executive said the tournament was used as a way of reviving the volleyball sport which was on its knees in the city of Bulawayo.
“The pre-season tournament is a first step that Bulawayo Volleyball Association has made in a bid to bring back to life the sport that was gradually crumbling,” said Mazviro.
“This tournament will also help the Bulawayo based teams to brace themselves for the league which will begin on the 14th of March.”
As the curtains to this tournament are set to come down today, the BVA are also expected to play host to a series of beach volleyball which is scheduled for May.
