Angola back at the Volleyball Horizon

D\'Agosto with their medals

4 December 2011

2011 Zone VI Volleyball Club Championship

  Windhoek, Namibia, December 3, 2011- Angola returned back to the top of the podium after their champions D’Agosto won the gold medal of the Zone VI Volleyball Club Championship following their victory over Kutlwano from Botswana in the final held here at the DTS Sports Club and the Police Training Centre in Windhoek, Namibia.
 
 Mafolofolo from Botswana clinched the women crown after they flew past their compatriot Kutlwano

 After one week of competitions, the competition came to a successful end on Thursday evening. The event received plenty of positive feedback from the international participants and the Namibian Volleyball Federation (NVF) was pleased about the sportsmanship among the contestants and the good attendance of supporters.
 
“It was great to see 12 men’s and 12 ladies teams participate in the Championships and showcasing some of the best international Volleyball played in every region. The spectacular Volleyball ensured that significantly more spectators attended the 68 matches played over 6 days than expected”, NVF president, Heiko Diehl, commented.
 
Thursday evening the men’s trophy of the 2011 Zone VI Club Championships was handed over to the exhausted but cheerful team D’Agosto from Angola. Botswana followed on the second and third rank with the Clubs Kutlwano and Diphatsa. On the ladies ranks, Botswana dominated the podium completely with Mafolofolo taking the title, Kutlwano as the runner up and Kalawango receiving the bronze medal.
 
 This year’s tournament was a premier for Angola after 15 years of no participation in the championships. Back on the volleyball horizon, Team D’Agosto not only managed to fight their way through the group stage unbeaten and had to face an energetic young opponent from the Western Cape University in the semifinals; but the team also arrived at the finals against Kutlwano from Botswana and succeeded against the Southern African volleyball giant.

The final match was a technical feud, with emotions running high and seldom more than a two-point difference in the score. D’Agosto endured the first set with difficulty, and Botswana shook their defence with cleverly placed spikes and harmonious team play. But after the second match, D’Agosto proved their fighting will and steadily secured their advantage in the game.
 
The all Botswana ladies final, between Botswana national champions, Mafolofolo, and Kutlwano provided a great fight between the countries two powerhouses. Mafolofolo won the first two sets, but Kutlwano was determined to fight back as they won the third set comfortably 25:15. Mafolofolo however turned up the heat again in the fourth set and proved that they were the stronger team on the day, winning the match 3 sets to one.

Namibia finished the ladies competition as second best country and was outclassed only by the three Botswana teams. Namibian Khomas Nampol team reached the semifinals, but were unfortunately unsuccessful against the skilled players of Kutlwano.

All in all, the host can be satisfied with the performance not only on the court, but also off the field as the tournament with around 350 athletes and 70 officials was carried out professionally by the Namibian organizers, referees and officials.
 
Final Ranking:

Men:
 
1. Club Desportivo D Agosto  (ANG)
 
2. Kutlwano (BOT)
 
3. Diphatsa (BOT)
 
4. University of Western Cape (RSA)
 
Ladies:
 
1. Mafolofolo (BOT)
 
2. Kutlwano (BOT)
 
3. Kalawango (BOT)
 
4. Khomas Nampol (NAM)
 
Match results:
 
Men:
 
3/4 position playoff:    Diphatsa          vs         UWC               3:2   (20:25, 25:19, 25:21, 18:25, 15:13)
 
Final:                           D Agosto         vs         Kutlwano         3:2   (22:25, 26:24, 25:22, 24:26, 15:12)
 
Ladies:
 
3/4 position playoff:    Kalawango       vs         Nampol                        3:0   (25:16, 25:16, 25:19)
 
Final:                           Mafolofolo      vs         Kutlwano         3:1   (25:21, 25:20, 15:25, 25:19)
 
By Jane Bockmühl, NVF Press officer