Beach volleyball glows

MUKWIMA CHILALA writes

@SunZambian

THE Zambia Volleyball Association (ZAVA) says it is proud that its initiative of introducing beach volleyball in the Country has now been welcomed and accepted in Zambia.

Commissioner Isaac Tembo said the project, which started five years ago in Zambia, had now been accepted by members of schools and members of community.

Tembo said the newly introduced sport was able to attract participation from various communities in Lusaka as evidenced at the ongoing Teullings tournament organised by the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC).

The tournament includes beach volleyball.

Tembo said ZAVA brought experts from England through the OYDC when introducing the sport.

OYDC built the first beach court in the country.

Tembo, who is also the OYDC volleyball coordinator, said his association had been going in schools to sensitise students about the sport, with the aim of recruiting athletes.

“We didn’t have any volleyball court in Zambia. So what ZAVA did is that they invited England, through OYDC, to which allowed us to make a court here,” he said.

“I know we haven’t gone out of the province but we believe there are also other places which have beach courts and they are playing there.”

Tembo said his objective and target was school going children who he said ZAVA wanted to groom for the development of the sport in the country.

OYDC has a running volleyball league tournament that attracts teams from within Lusaka that will see the best participating teams playing in the finale slated for October.