By Lomqhele Nxumalo
The Zim Open Volleyball Tournament took place from the 3rd to the 5th of April 2026 at Hwange Tennis Club. The event was hosted by Hwange Colliery and brought together different teams.
This special event moves to a new province every time, and Hwange Colliery was proud to host it this year. The competition featured 9 male teams and 4 female teams. The matches were very competitive, and every team fought hard for every point.
In the end, St Collins (Men) and Black Rhinos (Women) proved why they are champions by taking home the Gold medals.
Sonny Khabo, the Mat North Volleyball Association chairperson, announced exciting news. He said that moving forward, they will start the Mat North Volleyball Association League, which will have 9 teams.Mr. Khabo also expressed pride in Andile, a young player from Mat North. Andile was named the best player under 20 at the tournament. He has also represented Zimbabwe at the Under-20 level in Egypt.
Other stars included Wizzy (Best Setter) and defensive giants like Sharks and Tsitsi (Best Middle Blockers), who all proved that hard work leads to great results.
“It is our vision and mission to spread the sport to the whole nation,” said Mr. Nyaude, the vice president of the Volleyball Association.
Ward Councillor 8, Mthulisi Bvute, urged schools to adopt volleyball. He noted that volleyball is not yet widely played in schools and called for funding to train coaches and teachers.
As the tournament came to an end, organizers invited more sponsors to come on board. With more support, tournaments like these can continue to raise the standard of sports in Matabeleland and provide a platform for our local stars to shine.
