Progress, DHPS take inaugural CST crowns
Progress Private School and Deutsche Höhere Privatschule Windhoek (DHPS) were crowned boys’ and girls’ champions, respectively, of the inaugural Creative Sport Tourism (CST) Volleyball Tournament held in Windhoek yesterday.
Seven U13 teams competed at Hage Geingob Stadium across the two sections in a round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to their respective finals and the third-placed sides receiving bronze medals.
Progress take boys’ crown
Progress completed an unbeaten title run by beating Afrocat Sport Club 2-0 in the boys’ final to claim the gold medals and N$5 000.
They had progressed through the round-robin stage without defeat before getting the better of Afrocat again when the championship was on the line.
Progress head coach Heather Chihuri welcomed the title.
“We are happy. When we came here, the main point was just to have fun. Winning was just a bonus, and we took the bonus home.
“We are waiting for the [schools’] opening day before we can celebrate this victory. Then we are going to celebrate it with other learners at school. This victory is not only for the team, but it's for the whole school,” she said.
Afrocat consequently took the silver medals and N$3 000, while Sunshine Private School finished third, claiming bronze and N$2 000.
DHPS complete girls’ double
DHPS Team A claimed the girls’ title after beating schoolmates DHPS Team B 2-0 in the final.
Both DHPS sides had finished among the top two teams in the round-robin stage, setting up an all-DHPS gold-medal clash.
Team A walked away with the gold medals and N$5 000, while Team B received silver and N$3 000.
DHPS volleyball head coach Kudakwashe Mutasa could not hide his elation at both teams reaching the final, noting that they had brought two sides because of their large group of players.
“We have a big development programme going on at DHPS, [so] we wanted to have more play time. It was fortunately in our favour that both teams went to the final,” he noted.
He described the CST Volleyball Tournament as a good initiative to help develop the sport at grassroots level, which he said is “very important”.
Afrocat Titans finished third to take the bronze medals and N$2 000.
The tournament formed part of Emeraldsand Platforms’ annual expo, staged this year as the Creative Sport Tourism Expo.
Officials on hand
The event was also graced by the presence of deputy sports minister Dino Ballotti, Namibia Volleyball Federation president Tobias Mwatelulo, CAVB beach volleyball referee and CVA referee director Abiatar Andreas, and NVF schools director Elizabeth Autanga.
Mwatelulo admitted he was impressed with the event’s setup and the age group involved, as it catered to U13 players.
“Usually I always go to tournaments where you see seniors and under-17 players. This is unique. The atmosphere here is fun,” he said.
