The Namibia Correctional Services and Shining Stars volleyball teams made history by winning the Bank Windhoek Namibia Volleyball Federation (NVF) Doc Tournament for the first time. Hosted at the coastal town of Swakopmund, the Ondangwa and Rundu based teams defeated Windhoek's defending champions Active Performer Academy and Revivals in the men's and women's categories. The win means that for the first time in its 39-year history, the Bank Windhoek NVF cup goes outside the Khomas Region.Nokokure Kambatuku, Frieda Indongo, and Sara Wayiti of Revivals put up a good fight competing with Shining Stars' Botswana Nationals Tracy Chaba-Disang, Thapelo Kamberuka, and Poloko Namane, who were invited by the Rundu-based team.
Erongo Titans and Afrocat gave the spectators an exciting quarter-final match which was won by Afrocat by two sets to zero. The two young teams kept the spectators on edge, not knowing how the results would end. The winners were awarded N$10 000, N$8 000, N$6 000, and N$3 000 in both categories.
Growing bigger and better
The NVF President Hillary Imbuwa said it is exciting that about 90 percent of the players are young, who participated in a fun, competitive atmosphere. “The Bank Windhoek NVF Doc Tournament attracted a total of 37 teams in total which translates into 518 players displaying magnificent volleyball talent, witnessed by over 200 spectators," said Imbuwa. “We believe the sport code is indeed growing bigger and better. We are thankful that Bank Windhoek believes in our sports code."
Namibia Volleyball Federation is the only body legally recognised in the country as the sole national body authorised to administer and govern all forms of volleyball. It oversees, manages and communicates all forms of volleyball and beach volleyball at all levels nationwide.
Bank Windhoek's Head of Strategic Communication, Hayley Allen, congratulated the NVF for hosting another successful tournament. Allen said that as a connector of positive change, Bank Windhoek is proud to be associated with the NVF, which aims at developing and marketing the sport countywide, adding that the Bank has supported volleyball with over N$2 million since 2014. "We were equally happy to witness competitive matches dominated by the youth. This is a testament that the sport has a bright future in Namibia," said Allen.
The event, which took place at the Dome in Swakopmund from Saturday, 1 April, until Sunday, 2 April 2023, is one of the NVF's highlight events and saw players from Botswana and Germany participating, with other teams from the Zambezi, Kavango East, Ohangwena and Oshana Regions. Next on the volleyball calendar is the Confederation of African Volleyball Zone Six Tournament at the coastal town of Swakopmund over the upcoming Easter Holidays. Allen concluded by inviting spectators to witness top-class beach volleyball this coming weekend.
