Beach volleyball returns to Francistown

CHAKALISA DUBE
Staff Writer | Friday July 13, 2012 00:00

The first edition of the tournament was held during the President Day holiday celebrations last year. The tournament will be held on the banks of the Tati River behind Setlalekgosi Community Junior Secondary School (CJSS).The BNSC Sports Development Officer in Francistown, Odirile Sibanda said the tournament is organised  in an effort to raise awareness about beach volleyball in the country: 'Beach volleyball in Botswana is still in its infancy and we want to raise awareness about the sport. We also want to provide entertainment  during the holidays,' he added. So far, four Francistown teams have registered to take part in the three-day tournament.Three teams made up of women and three made up of  men from Zimbabwe have also confirmed that they will take part in the tournament.

'A sizeable number of teams in Gaborone have expressed interest to take part at the event but we are waiting for them to confirm their participation. They will confirm their participation at the event today,' an optimistic Sibanda said.Some Batswana volleyball players who are studying in Cuba will take part in the tournament. They are expected to share their skills with other participants.  Last year's tournament attracted 23 teams: seven women teams and 16 teams made up of men, Sibanda revealed. Sibanda also said that he is hopeful that  by the time registration closes today, a considerable number of individuals and teams will have confirmed their participation at the event.

'This year's tournament will be much better than last year's because the Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) will closely be involved in the tournament. So far, they have provided us with balls designated for beach volleyball which we did not have last year,' he revealed.This year's tournament is sponsored by Francistown's Sefalana Cash and Carry, Pie City and Adansonia Hotel to the tune of P5,000. Other sponsors will confirm if they will sponsor the tournament or not today Sibanda told Mmegi Sports.'Companies can register to take part at the tournament by contributing P300, while individual teams will have to part with P100 to take part in the event. Registration closes in the evening today at Galo shopping mall,' he said adding that part of the registration money will go towards charity.