By Delicious Mathuthu
Gweru – The Midlands Volleyball Association (MIDVA) is targeting grassroot development as they look forward to an exciting 2025 season, building on the successes made in 2024, Kwedu News reports.
This was revealed during the MIDVA Annual General Meeting (AGM) held recently at the Sports and Recreation Commission Offices in Gweru.
The MIDVA new board, which took over the Association last year, is seeking to revive and develop the sport with the assistance of the Sports and Recreation Commission and Government departments focusing on sport in the Midlands Province
MIDVA Chairperson Rudo Charuma, while addressing members of the association, SRC representatives, stakeholders and volleyball clubs representarives, reflected on the past year’s achievements and challenges
“We are delighted to say that the Midlands Volleyball Association has had an incredibly successful season. Our league and competitions have been well-attended and keenly contested, with teams and players showcasing their skills and sportsmanship,” Charuma said.
One of the highlights of the 2024 season, she said, was the MIDVA Premier Volleyball League, which was a huge success despite being held over a short period.
The success led to a league awards dinner which was held in Gweru and, as Charuma noted, it united players through dance and music.
“We also managed to host our end of season tournament at Mkoba Teachers College with six (6) men’s teams and five (5) ladies teams.
“MSU Cobras Volleyball Club and Diamonds Volleyball Club represented the province in the Zimbabwe Premier Volleyball league 2024,” Charuma added.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, MIDVA said they are excited to introduce beach volleyball into its competition basket.
A Beach Volleyball League and two tournaments are lined up to establish and popularize this exciting form of the game in the province in 2025.
“The Premier League is scheduled to run from March to September, and up to five tournaments are lined up.
“We are committed to improving our governance structures and encouraging the constitution of District Volleyball Associations,” Dr. Hugh Mangeya, the MIDVA 1st Vice Chairperson responsible for Competitions and Administration said during the same meeting.
MIDVA is also encouraging the formation and registration of academies across the province to develop and groom young players, which are seen as the seedbeds of sustainable grassroots development.
“We are happy to report that we have the Shabani District Volleyball Association that is officially coming on board this year. We hope that this will provide impetus for more DVAs to come on board,” Mangeya said.
In terms of developments done in 2024, Dr. Mangeya said MIDVA managed to introduce its referees’ local uniform and attended the Elective Congress in Mutare hosted by Manicaland Volleyball Association.
The MIDVA Chairperson, Charuma, also said the association has managed to regularise it’s existence.
“We are proud to announce that we are fully affiliated with the Zimbabwe Volleyball Association (ZVA) and Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) requirements,” Charuma said.
MIDVA also managed to host several tournaments, including the Zim Open, Annual Kwekwe Sports, Arts and Culture Festival, Diamonds Tournament, and the Shabani Volleyball League End of Season Tournament.
In terms of challenges faced in the 2024 season, MIDVA cited underrepresentation of ladies teams, lateness in commencing season formal competitive activities, and poor time management.
For the 2025 season, MIDVA said teams were to affiliate and register by the 14th of February 2025.
