Five volleyball courts have been build to prepare for the forthcoming October 2012 grand tournament ZAMBIA Volleyball Association (ZAVA) General Secretary, Charles Hambote, has expressed happiness over the rapid development of beach volleyball in the country.
Speaking in an interview with the Lusaka Star, Hambote said that the Siavonga Splash Beach volleyball tournament, which will take place in October this year, is an indication that the tournament has undergone major developments as compared to the inaugural one held last year.
Hambote said this year’s tournament, which is open to all ZAVA affiliates, signified that the sport was growing, and that right measures had been put in place.
“There will be five volleyball courts unlike last year where we only had one court and equipment that is appropriate for beach volleyball will be used,” he said.
Furthermore, Hambote noted that ZAVA had acquired a lot of knowledge from last year’s beach volleyball tournament and that the information will help them organise this year’s tournament.
He said that ZAVA has maintained Sandy’s Beach Lodge in Siavonga as the venue for this year’s tournament which is expected to attract more than 24 teams from across Zambia. The tournament will take place between 6 and 7 October 2012.
“We are actually expecting a better turnout of spectators as compared to last year’s tournament,” Hambote said.
Hambote however expressed dissatisfaction over the inadequacy of resources for the expansion of training facilities country wide.
He emphasised that beach volleyball is an important sport that needs to be promoted as it is officially an Olympic sport.