Non-Academic Bachelors Association (NABA), the local leading Harare based volleyball club, has punched above their weight, achieving success through determination and focus.
The club's recent victory at the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Zone Six Senior Club Championships in Maseru, Lesotho, demonstrated their determination to put the country on the international map despite operating on a shoestring budget.
NABA finished second in the Zone Six competition in December to secure a spot in the continental games to be held in Egypt at the end of April.
It was not an easy ride for the team who scrapped to get resources for their participation in Maseru.
As they progressed to the next stages at the games, accommodation and other tournament related costs kept increasing. At one point, a club official had to write back home, asking their executive to run around and send them money in Maseru.
The situation was so dire, that did not have money to buy super for the team.
They were also owing money for accommodation and laundry.
However, the team remained focused on the task at hand.
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NABA chairperson Munyaradzi Mavhima praised the team's resilience in the face of adversities.
"NABA Volleyball Club is one of the most decorated clubs in recent volleyball history in the country, and its brand has certainly reached across the region and beyond. However, appearing in regional tournaments is no pushover, as the recent 2023 Lesotho Zone 6 Club Championships showed," Mavhima told NewsDay Sport.
"With the hype that the team possessed in the build-up to this tournament, no one ever thought that the journey to attain a silver medal would be as tough. Training in the beaming sun at different venues and sometimes having no water or lunch, the gents went out to showcase how much they love the sport and how much passion they have for NABA. Credit should be given to those who showed love and affection for the team; the gents who found themselves in Maseru.
"The accommodation was decent but could have been better to suit competition standards. Already struggling with finances, the exorbitant prices of the food and accommodation left the club pockets dry within the first 24 hours of our journey. When we thought that we had solved one problem, another one would just pop up, and it became the order of the day."
Mavhima highlighted the determination shown in Maseru.
"The athletes had to wake up early to bath and prepare for matches, and the hustle of travelling to and from the venue was no easy feat due to the transport system in the host country. Luckily, the times of the matches did not disrupt the momentum of the team up until the final, in which we narrowly lost 3-2 against our regional rivals, Green Buffaloes from Zambia," he said.
"The defeat was a painful one and it dampened the team's mood, and even the prize money did not fully reflect the team's effort and hard work to reach that far. Hence, this experience encompassed the real zeal of what the NABA Volleyball Club stands for. The harsh conditions faced by the team and what they eventually got out of the Zone 6 Club Championships is the same drive that they will need if they are to do well in Egypt this April.
"The tournament in Egypt will be tougher and require more resources, hence the need for partners that can assist financially to make the trip successful. Zimbabwean Volleyball has been on the rise, as witnessed by having two teams in the top four and the national team qualifying for the All-Africa Games in Ghana. With NABA representing Zimbabwe and the region, this will assist Zim Volleyball and the region with shared lessons learned amongst peers."
Participation in Egypt is at the centre of their priorities for this year, and a good showing there would place them among the continent's best.
"The anticipation to partake in the 2024 African Club Championships hangs by a thread as the team seeks massive support from the corporate world and sports enthusiasts. This is a showpiece of champions, and NABA Volleyball Club are champions here. Its vision to see the flag flying high has given the urge to accomplish this goal and become African champions," Mavhima said.
"A goal can be achieved if the corporate world can jump in and assist the team. Such an opportunity impacts a lot of the youths as they stay away from drug and substance abuse to take up sports as a source of staying healthy and fit. Some athletes have fees paid by the club for their tertiary education, and some are remunerated.
"As NABA Volleyball Club, this chance will allow youths to envision taking this sport even further and open the door for furthering their sporting careers. Indeed, with our talent, nothing is impossible.
"As a club with integrity, we humbly seek assistance to embark on a journey to Cairo to fulfil the dream. The club is certain that it will do well, and to achieve this, synergies are required through value proposition."
