Namibian volleyball destined for higher honours 

Following the successful hosting of the first leg of the Africa Zone VI Beach Volleyball series over the weekend, Namibia could be destined for higher honours. 

A total of 80 players from nine southern African countries participated in the tournament which was the first in a series of five legs and according to tournament organiser Heiko Kesselmann, bigger tournaments could now be in store. 

“Everything went smoothly and everyone was very happy – they always say it’s the best tournament of the whole tour. The president of African Volleyball Confederation, Bouchra Hajij was also very impressed – she said Namibia is now high on their list of destinations and we are now being considered to host bigger events,” he said. 

“Namibia could now possibly host continental cup or Olympic Games qualification tournaments. For the Olympics, they first have zonal competitions and then all the zonal winners come together for a final qualifying tournament which then determines the one spot that Africa will get for the Olympic Games. They are thinking about hosting it in our zone and that’s a big one because the whole continent will be represented,” he added. 

A total of 48 men and 32 women from nine southern African nations competed at the tournament, namely Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and Malawi. 

Danilo von Ludwiger and Mthokozisi Mndingi of South Africa won the men’s competition, while Moroesi Tolofi and Neo Chapole of Lesotho won the women’s competition. 

Kesselmann said the standard was quite high although not all the top players  were in action. 

“The Mozambicans did not come – they are on a different level and they would have won both the men and women’s competitions if they were here. But I’d say Angola and Botswana who were here, are amongst the top five in Africa, so the standard was quite good,” he said. 

Besides the visiting African teams, there were quite a lot of Namibian teams competing – seven women and 13 men’s teams and Kesselmann said the quality and quantitity is improving. 

“Beach volleyball is definitely growing in Namibia and the quality is also improving due to the many international competitions where our players are competing, but we need a stronger commitment from the players. Many of the teams that entered normally just play indoor volleyball and not beach volleyball throughout the year,” he said. 

Von Ludwiger and Mndingi won the men’s competition after beating Eduardo Afonso and Carlos Muondo of Angola 2-1 in a close final (19-21, 21-17, 15-11).

Namibia’s Krafft brothers Max and Jura won the bronze medal after beating Kudakwashe Mahachi and Panache Chiguta of Zimbabwe 2-0 (21-9, 21-6) in the third place play-off match. 

In the semifinals, Von Ludwiger and Mndingi beat Mahachi and Chiguta 2-0 (21-14, 21-15), while Afonso and Muondo had to pull out all the stops to beat the Krafft brothers 2-0 (21-19, 21-19).

In the quarterfinals, the Kraffts beat another Namibian pair of brothers, Daniel and Fabian Pfeifer 2-0 (21-15, 21-11); Von Ludwiger and Mndingi beat Chabota Hamainza and Brighton Mweya of Zambia 2-0 (21-11, 21-17); 

Afonso and Muondo beat Trevor Manduwa and Mossiwa Baleofi of Botswana 2-1 (18-21, 21-12, 17-15); and Mahachi and Chiguta beat Charles Akakandelwa and Gift Jilowa of Zambia 2-1 (21-14, 8-21, 15-5).

The women’s final was a thriller that went down to the wire, before Tolofi and Chapole eventually beat Beene Matongo and Matildah Bwalya of Zambia 2-1 (21-6, 19-21, 17-15).

Anna Morova and Chantal Mutede of Zimbabwe won the bronze medal after beating Anneta Frederiksen and Christin Decalme of South Africa 2-0 (21-0, 21-0).??

In the semifinals, Tolofi and Chapole Frederiksen and Decalme 2-1 (17-21, 21-15, 15-7), while Matongo and Bwalya beat Morova and Mutede 2-1 (14-21, 21-14, 15-11).

In the quarterfinals, Tolofi and Chapole beat Harris Lameesh and Albertina Mathew of Namibia 2-0 (21-17, 21-6); Frederiksen and Decalme beat Itumeleng Mareka and Moleboheng Mofolo of Lesotho 2-1 (21-18, 19-21, 15-11); Matongo and Bwalya beat Zeevah Pocock and Natasha Webber of South Africa 2-0 (26-24, 21-18); Morova and Mutede beat Romy and Piroschka Lück of Namibia 2-1 (21-15, 15-21, 15-12).

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