KB Ladies save hosts face in Zone VI Club Volleyball

Kamuzu Barracks Ladies team has saved Malawi’s face in the Zone VI Club Volleyball Championship being played at Africa Bible College in Lilongwe.

The club is the only local team out of eight teams in both men’s and women’s categories to reach the quarter-finals at the tournament which started on December 14 and is expected to end tomorrrow.

However, Kamuzu Barracks progressed after beating compatriots Moyale Barracks Queens 3-2 while Green Buffaloes of Zambia topped Pool A with six points.

In the men’s category, Moyale Barracks, Thunders, Kamuzu Barracks and Mipuniro represented Malawi while Kamuzu Barracks, Moyale Barracks, Katoto Queens, Gemz in the women’s category.

All Malawian clubs, apart from Kamuzu Barracks Ladies team finished bottom of the table in their respective pools.

 In an interview with The Nation earlier, Volleyball Association of Malawi technical director  James Mangani, who is also Malawi Olympic Committee technical officer, blamed the poor performance on a number of issues.

“There are several factors that have contributed to this poor showing. The factors range from complacency, failing to change game-plan to reading the game. It’s disappointing. We could have done better,” he said.

On his part, Kamuzu Barracks coach Omar Ntalikadzanja said their loss to Zambia’s Nkhwazi was on technical grounds.

“We were leading 2-0, but we failed to win the following set to seal the game. The reason is that our opponents made tactical changes that caught us unawares,” he said.

Results for Malawi teams.

Day One

Women’s Category

Green Buffaloes (Zambia) 3 Moyale Barracks  Queens (Malawi) 0, UP Maputo (Mozambique) 3 Gemz (Malawi) 0, Tshwane University of Technology (South Africa) 3 Katoto Queens (Malawi) 0.

Men’s Category

Green Buffaloes (Zambia) 3 Mipuniro Spikers (Malawi) 0, Chalube (Zambia) 3, Kamuzu Barracks (Malawi) 2

Day Two

Women’s Category

University of Zimbabwe Wolves 3 Gemz (Malawi) 0, Harare City (Zimbabwe) 3, Katoto Queens (Malawi) 0,

Vaal University of Technology (South Africa) 3 Eagles Ladies (Malawi) 0.

Men’s Category University of Zimbabwe Wolves 3 Mipuniro Spikers (Malawi) 3,