28 Jan 2020

Gabs Beach Volleyball’s duo Tiroyaone Otimile and Tshepaone Orapeleng bagged the gold medals for the men’s category during the six Nations Tournament held at Molapo Crossing sports arena in Gaborone over the weekend. 

The pair were seconded by Zimbabwe. 

South Africa’s pair Nick and Tash were crowned women’s champions while Zimbabwe finished second. 

Gabs Beach Club captain Otimile said the games went as expected despite other teams failing to come through due to financial constraints.

“Only Botswana, Lesotho and Zimbabwe participated against the expected six nations. 

Namibia and Swaziland sent representatives to offer their support.” 

Mozambique did not communicate their challenges. 

The Six Nation Tournament director, Uzubenathi Ntumbu of Street Beats Beach Club, South Africa said the main aim of the tournament was to develop the sport in the region.

He said they were working on balancing academics with sports performance.

Ntumbu said that they were working on holding coaching clinics, referee workshops and academic performance workshops, bringing in all the professionals to equip the players.

 “I am grateful towards the Botswana Volleyball Federation’s support in this tournament as we approached them on the eleventh for assistance. 

South African Volleyball Federation has also promised to assist us on our next tournament slated for South-Africa in November,” he said. 

Ntumbu said the tournaments would earn players points, which improve their ranking and put them on better positions to play in big tournaments.

“The winners are awarded 100 points, first runner-ups are given 75 points, whereas second runner-up are given 50 points and the rest of the players get 25 points each,” he said.

He said proceeds from the tournament would be given to the players to motivate them.

“The top four will have their expenses covered in the next edition in South Africa, where more teams are expected to participate,” he said.

Ntumbu said unlike other codes in South Africa, the best volleyball can do to empower their members is send them to tertiary institutions and said thereafter it is end of the road for such players. 

As expensive as beach volleyball is, he added that it is painful to see a volleyball player struggling out there when opportunities are abound such as coaching opportunities as there are several clubs in the country.

He said usually foreign coaches were roped in to help the national team. 

Ntumbu said that Botswana volleyball team being one of the best in Africa needed all the exposure to get recognition, which will attract more sponsors.

“We are not only promoting beach volleyball. 

Our intention is to introduce beach netball and soccer so that beach sports get recognition in the rest of Africa, and eventually internationally,” he said.

He revealed that they have applied for registration with  FIVB to get better rankings and points whenever players participate in the six nations tournament.

Ntumbu said the tournament is his club and Gabs Beach Club’s brainchild and that they extended the invitation to other four countries to share planning and division of assignments.

BVF Sports Development officer Peaceful Seleka vouched that BVF supported the tournament by paying the referees’ fees and gave the players the net, antennas and score boards.

He added that he was happy with the way the competitions took off and ending smoothly with all the seven men’s team and women’s team finishing within the stipulated time. ENDS