BOINEELO RANKWAILA
Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) has taken a decision to introduce Beach Volleyball after the just ended beach volleyball coaches course that ran for five days in Gaborone. Speaking exclusively with this publication, Sport Development Officer of BVF Peaceful Seleka stated that they had invited General Secretary of Israel Volleyball Association Yaniv Noyman to be the course instructor. The course attracted a total of 22 coaches with 14 from BVF affiliate clubs, three from BISA, 4 from BOPSSA and 1 BVF officer.
Seleka indicated that they will launch it to the general public once they have taken care of all possible logistics regarding beach volleyball, a date which they are hoping will not be later than December.
“The federation is working around the clock to find possible sponsors for beach volleyball as this is something that is relatively new in our local sport codes, the public shouldn’t confuse it with the current Mascom sponsored indoor volleyball,” said Seleka.
Currently the federation does not have any clubs registered for Beach Volleyball, they are planning on their current affiliates having a beach volleyball setup. When interviewed by Gazette Sport the vice technical officer George Keotsene said they are hoping to have at least one competition during the current year, hopefully the number of competitions will be increased from the beginning of next year as they will be gradually growing to improve the sport.
When Keotsene was asked whether the federation has facilities for this kind of sport, he said; “Currently there are no BVF beach volleyball facilities but we have set aside some funds to set up several beach volleyball courts. We are also talking to facility owners who have potential to host beach volleyball courts with a view to partnering with them in the development of courts within their facilities.”
In his closing remarks, Keotsene highlighted that the Beach Volleyball coaches course is the beginning of a new era, also by setting up of beach volleyball structures within the BVF. The federation is hoping to run similar courses for referees and administrators.
BVF is also going through the process of amending the BVF constitution to cater for a beach volleyball structure that is; have a Vice President responsible for Beach Volleyball & also set up a beach volleyball Commission to run beach activities.