New chapter for Botswana volleyball
The recent conclusion of a five-day international beach volleyball coaches course in Gaborone heralded a new chapter for the country’s sport as the Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) aims to have staged a beach volleyball competition by close of year.
The Volleyball Your Way (VBYW) course that was conducted by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) was only a part of a grand plan to see beach volleyball grace the expanse of the country. Traditionally played along ocean beaches in several coastal cities and towns around the world, beach volleyball has over the past few years been introduced even in land-locked countries where the sand used on the court is often imported from countries with beach fronts.
Botswana is the latest in Africa to consider bringing in the sport after other nations such as Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa and Namibia have been active in the sport for years. Without the benefit of the course last year, Botswana tested the waters by sending two teams of four players to participate in the Rio 2016 Olympic qualifiers in Mozambique, but were eliminated early by their more experienced opponents. It is against this background that the BVF applied for the coaches course in order to get it right from the grassroots.
The 22 coaches from BVF affiliates as well as primary, secondary and tertiary schools who successfully completed the course were challenged to ensure that Botswana hits the ground running in the sport to surpass the achievements of the indoor teams that have shown growth over the years. Botswana National Sports Commission’s (BNSC) Technical Sports Development Director Bobby Gaseitsewe told the graduating coaches: “Botswana volleyball has shown growth at regional and continental level as evidenced by the recent senior national women’s team that for the first time beat Tunisia in the Olympic qualifiers to finish at number five on the continent. I challenge you to use your knowledge to develop players who will surpass the achievements at indoor volleyball.”
Gaseitsewe, who was speaking at the coaches’ course closing ceremony, also challenged the volleyball body to ensure qualification of Botswana to the next Africa Games’ beach volleyball, where they should clinch a medal. He implored the coaches to exercise caution with the advent of beach volleyball as there exists a likelihood of divided attention that could lead to lowered standards. “All of you are fully involved in indoor volleyball and as such I would encourage you to find a balance between the two and not compromise the other one,” he said.
The same concern was raised by BVF President Daniel Molaodi who feared the possibility of talent exodus to beach volleyball which he said was relatively cheaper to run. On the flip side however, he said the sport offered a more realistic chance for Botswana to qualify for the Olympics. Already, the BVF has engaged a number of corporate entities with a view to get sponsorship for tournaments.