Local volleyball teams are putting final touches to preparations for the sub-continent Zone VI club championships where they will slug it out with their regional peers in Durban, South Africa in December.
Speaking to Telegraph Sport, BVF Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kagiso Meswele said the federation made a decision to send three teams to compete against their regional peers. “BVF leadership has made a determination to send three teams from both men and women to compete in this year’s club competitions,” he says.
The three teams that will finish top in the first round of the ongoing Mascom league will qualify to represent the country in the club championships” Kagiso Meswele explained the qualifying standards. In the current Mascom league log standings week 10, Kalavango, BDF VI and Police VI are top 3 under the men’s category while Mafolofolo, Mag Stimela and BDF VI are leading the table in the same order.
Meswele observed that the regional competition does not have any monetary incentives but clubs only compete as a gateway to the continental show piece. Meswele further observed that the major challenge the clubs are facing is funds. “The teams sometimes fail to participate in the competitions because of lack of money despite the fact that they have qualified to be in the tournament. A good team may fail to participate not out of their will but because of financial constrains. Teams sponsor them with accommodation, food and travel expenses” he explained.
Botswana volleyball teams have in the past won the regional done tournament.
Meswele it is difficult to predict how the local teams will perform because it is not know which teams will be competing in the championships. “Local and regional we are yet to know which teams will qualify to play in the club championships hence we cannot know exactly what to expect at the games. BVF expect the teams that would travel to Durban to do their best and make the country proud” Meswele. He observed that many team in the region may take part in South Africa because South Africa has better resources in terms of playing facilities and other needs.
The top performing clubs in the region will be converging to qualify for the continental club championships to be played next year.
