23 Jan 2020

Gabs beach Volleyball Club will host the first 6 nations Beach Volleyball Tournament at Molapo beach complex in Gaborone on January 25-26.

Speaking in an interview on January 22, one of the club founders, Tiroyaone Otimile said the series would rotate across Southern Africa; Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia and Botswana being the first host of the tournament.

Otimile said the club had vouched to develop beach volleyball in the country to be recognised as a new sport.

“The club has got agreement with several countries that they host a six nations beach volleyball series.” 

“Our club hosted a successful tournament last year in October, with the technical help from Botswana Volleyball Federation. 

Given BVF’s continued support we are positive about the sport growing despite the absence of sponsors,” he said. 

He revealed that the club’s players represented Botswana at Mozambique early January where they played Olympic qualifiers sub zonal stage and qualified to the next round.

“We will use the weekend tournament to hone our skill ahead of the next round,” he said.

He said the club’s desire was to build an academy that would give opportunities to different athletes to compete in many international platforms.

“Our  dream is to have a pool of professional beach volleyball players in the country given that the sport is one of the highest paying sports worldwide, an indication that it is indeed a special code,” he added.

This year, Otimile said their focus would be on development and community outreach, hosting training camps, coaching clinics and trials for young ones.

On other issues, the Botswana Beach Volleyball senior men’s team have booked a slot in the continental qualifiers after an impressive show at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers held at Mozambique last week.

The Beach Volleyball Commission chairperson, Dorothy Mba said she was highly impressed by the team given that it was its first competition for the Olympic qualifiers.

She said the team would compete with other African countries on the next phase, due next month at a venue yet to be announced.

The chairperson added that there would be another event scheduled for June.

Mba said financial constraints was a major setback, adding that the team needs sponsorship to attend tournaments essential in improving their skills.  ENDS