In the 2009 championship, contested in Egypt in 2008, the hosts lost to rivals Tunisia in the final and Algeria were the bronze medallists. The winner of the 2010 Cape Town event will represent the African continent at the 2011 FIVB Boys Youth World Championship.

Participating countries in Cape Town will be: South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Congo Brazzaville and RD Congo.

The South African team is: Dean Layters, Miles Thompson, Clint Sanders, Robin Wessels, Marshallino Julies, Cody Isaacs, Bulumko Mabambulu, Carlo van Nelson, Cruden Daniels (All Western Cape), Thabo Ntombela (Gauteng), Nathaniel Rafapa (Limpopo Province) and Ruwellyn Pillay (Kwa Zulu Natal). Coach: Loet Groenewald (Western Cape), Assistant Coach: Adrian Strydom (Western Cape), Manager: Cliffy Chetty (Kwa Zulu Natal)

While the Limpopo province dominated the championship by registering the highest number of participants, teams from Gauteng dominated the podium by scooping the top two positions in both genders.

The winners and runners-ups from this competition will gain automatic qualification in the 2011 Champions Cup, the country’s elite inter-club championship.

Quantum took men’s honours from TUT Pretoria and Cigma while TUT Pretoria won the women’s category from UJ and Kamplits.

The following teams participated in the 2011 VSA CUP:
Men: Kamplits; Juventus; Diesel n’Dust; Cigma; Hurricanes; Evergreen; Bull Dogs (Limpopo Province); 76ers; Transnet; Central University of Technology (Free State); Quantum; Heatseekers; TUT Pretoria (Gauteng); KSST (KZN)

Women: Kamplits; Diesel n’ Dust (Limpopo Province), Fubu; 76ers (Free State), University of Johannesburg; TUT Pretoria (Gauteng)
MBSA (E Cape)

Best setter awards went to Fatima West (UJ) and Chris Nenkov (Quantum), Best attacker: Anna Phago (TUT) and Halif Sarki (TUT), best blocker: Duduzile Dldodlo (Fubu) and Warwick Ellerbeck (Quantum) and Most Valuable Players: Anna Phago (TUT) and Aleksander Popovic (Quantum)

As part of VSA’s contribution to the annual programme, the Johannesburg Correctional Facility was chosen to host the Volley-All Festival for offenders and members (warders) of both genders.

In a memorandum of understanding signed between VSA and DCS, both sides committed themselves to making volleyball an integral part of the rehabilitation programme for the correctional facilities in all nine provinces in South Africa.

The ‘fun-day’ tournament for 112 offenders and 98 warders from eight prisons in Gauteng was preceded by a short coaching session conducted by the VSA officials.

While the sport is at its “infancy stage” among the female offenders, the standard of play among some of the male teams was  encouraging, the most impressive being the Johannesburg Correctional Facility ( also known as “Sun City”) who ended the day as the undisputed champions.

“There were handshakes all round at the end of the day as the Volley-All Festival was a tremendous success,” said VSA Vice President, Anthony Mokoena from the Free State. Mokoena went on to say that he was inundated with requests from both the offenders and warders to host such activities on a more regular basis.

This was at VSA’s general council meeting held at the Royal Polokwane Hotel, Limpopo at the weekend and the process was formally ratified by the council.

In welcoming delegates to the meeting, Reddy said he was encouraged by the magnitude of work done by his executive in realising the National Federation’s plans of “taking the sport to the people” since the November 2009 AGM.

Reddy singled out the development  team’s nationwide roll-out programme that targeted schools and community based clubs as the National Federation’s flag ship events. Delegates at the meeting were overwhelming in their praise for Development Director, Mike Makubela and Theirry Mabeka for the work done in their respective provinces.

Schools’ Director, Ms Ilhaalm Groenewald presented a comprehensive strategic plan up for the period 2010 to 2012 which incorporated South Africa’s participation at the International Schools’ Federation’s (ISF) World Schools’ Championship in China in June this year.

SA’s participation at this level of competition is historic as for the first time schools will be participating in an international tournament under the banner of Volleyball South Africa (VSA).

VSA President Tubby Reddy has put in place a three-person task team (Ilhaalm Groenewald; Anthony Mokoena and Donovan Nair) to draw up a comprehensive plan of activities for the development of volleyball in schools nationally.

The task team will roll out its plan of hosting the 2011 National Top Schools’ Tournament in September this year.
However, the deadline for the provinces to submit their respective schools plan of activity for 2011 is 31 July 2010.

Reddy informed the house that the Western Cape Sports School benefited from its association with VSA as a development centre by securing international flooring for its indoor volleyball court. Reddy went on to say that VSA’s first phase of installing international flooring will be completed when the Mangaung Sports Centre (Free State) and the Durban University of Technology’s Fred Crookes Sports Centre are fitted with international flooring.

At the CAVB’s Beach Volleyball Commission Meeting held last month in Cairo ,Egypt, the continental body unveiled its plans for the restructuring of Olympic and World Championship qualification process.

According to VSA beach volleyball co-ordinator, Gershon Rorich who attended the Cairo Conference, players wishing to represent the continent must in the first instance qualify through Africa.

On the national front Rorich said that two men’s teams and two women’s teams have been selected for preparation to participate in international tournaments. The SA beach volleyball contingent coached by Adrian Strydom will attend a training camp in France before participating in the FIVB World Tour in France (July 20-25 2010).

According to Rorich, a youth development programme will be implemented to ensure a steady supply of players at the provincial and national levels.

An innovation for the 2010 season is beach volleyball IPT (Inter-Provincial Tournament) for the youth, senior and over 35 players. Six teams from each province will be invited to the IPT.

A comprehensive report was delivered by newly appointed Technical Director, Size Vardhan focusing on LTAD (Long Term Athlete Development) and Coaches Development. Transformation and Social Responsibility Director, William Mojapele is tasked with co-ordinating the “Volley-All Festival” for 2010 in the correctional facilities in all 9 provinces in our country with the main activity being in the Pretoria correctional facility.

VSA’s first major indoor competition for the 2010 season, the Champions Cup, is scheduled for the University of Kwa Zulu Natal in July. Teams that failed to comply with the 31 May deadline to confirm participation and pay the competition fee of R2000 will not be eligible to participate in this year’s competition.

Reddy also informed delegates that VSA will not renew its contract with Molten, but will enter into negotiations with Mikasa.

The prize money on offer is R30 000.

Player registration takes place on the opening day of the tournament at the beach at 8am.

Cost of entry to the tournament is R120 per team. The first set of matches commence at 9am. Entry for secondary school girls and boys is free.

Contact: Donovan Nair on 072 372-2283 or e-mail: donovan.nair@gmail.com

Despite the disappointment of not earning the qualifiying spot SA coach Jayson Govender had made it clear to his team that losing the encounter was not an option for them.

Govender’s charges did not disappoint as they comfortably won the opening set by a 25-18 margin.

The second set belonged to the North Africans as they had the hosts on the back foot. Morocco ran our deserved winners of the second set with a 25-19 score line.

The South Africans bounced back largely through the efforts of Gerald Chetty (MVP). Chetty was unstoppable especially from position two, constantly picking up valuable points with his trade mark powerful cross court attacks. The (25-20) third set win boosted SA’s chances of victory.

But the Moroccans had other plans. Exploiting SA’s weakness in defence through an injury to their libero Cheslyn van Staden, the Moroccans kept the score board ticking when the South Africans struggled to keep the ball alive on their side of the court.

When coach Said Moutaouakil switched Amine Zayani from the role of setter to attacker it lifted the spirits of the Moroccan team. Zayani became a handful for the SA blockers who often wilted under pressure from the effervescent North African.

Skipper Oussama and Mohammed Naoum played a key supporting role to level matters (2-2) when they grabbed a heart stopping (29-27)  fourth set win.

The deciding fifth set was an explosive encounter with both teams throwing caution to the wind with a total onslaught strategy.

At (10-10) the set could have gone either way. With the South Africans losing three points in a row it seemed as if the Moroccans were on course to wrap up the set.

The South Africans once again had to rely on Gerald Chetty to fire a few quick points to seal the match with a 15-13 score line.

Dark horses in the Youth Olympic Games Qualifier, the DR Congo booked their place as the African continent’s representative for the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore later this year when they edged out Liberia (3-0) (25-19 25-22  25-21).

While Liberia’s resistance to the highly fancied DRC team came largely from prolific attacker Avenso Mulbah, it was not enough to prevent their opponents from taking the opening set with a (25-19) score line.

Attacker of the tournament, Banza Mbuyi who tortured the Liberians every time that he connected with playmaker Patric Misano’s flawless setting was joined in action by Nzeza Mayaula (best blocker) and the quick left handed hitter, Mbuli Inginda to post a hard fought(25-22) win to keep their hopes alive of reaching the podium as the tournament’s winners.

The closely contested third set could have gone Liberia’s way had it not been for the power and strength of the RDC lads who took the match by the scruff of its neck and closed proceedings with a (25-21) win to emerge as overall winners of the inaugural qualifier.

SPECIAL AWARDS AT THE TOURNAMENT
Best Setter: Amine Zayani (Morocco)
Best Attacker: Banza Mbuyi (DRC)
Best Blocker: Nzeza Mayaula (DRC)
MVP: Gerald Chetty (South Africa)

DRC’s devastating win against Morocco on the opening day of the tournament sent shockwaves among their opponents who were forced to take notice of a team that made its intentions quite clear that no-one was going to stop them winning the tournament.

In their encounter against South Africa, DRC were convincingly beaten 25-20 in the opening set. Star attacker, Gerald Chetty and Miles Thompson put the first set beyond the reach of DRC.

With the home fans firmly behind their heroes, SA raced to a 20-14 lead in the second set. With a six-point lead one would expect that the home side would quickly close proceedings.

However, SA setter Marshallino Jullies chose the worst possible time to lose focus on the job at hand. Poor service to his attackers was like manna from heaven for the DRC team who quickly capitalised on SA’s misfortunes and went onto wrap up the set with a hard fought 28-26 win.

Knowledgeable volleyball fans knew that it was going to be a mammoth task for the crestfallen South Africans to bounce back into contention. Despite poor service from playmaker Jullies, the South Africans were merely two points adrift from their opponents. It was SA’s inability to block DRC’s fast hitters saw them slump to a 22-18 deficit. Quick middle attacker, Mayaula Nzeza was a handful for the SA blockers who failed repeatedly to contain him.  Nzeza went on to post a heart stopping 25-23  third set win.

Once again the SA team had to rely on prolific attacker Gerald Chetty to bring them back into the game. Following two solid blocks by SA’s tall and strongly built Velisa Ntshunshe the difference between the teams was reduced to one point (24-23).

When DRC setter, Patrick Musano delivered a quick set to the middle to Nzeza the tall attacker buried the ball with venom. DRC then sealed the set with a 25-23 score line.

Although SA lost the fourth set 25-23, the youngsters were never intimidated by their opponents’ tall and robust attack force spearheaded by Tshanga Tstubangu, Nzeza and Mbuyi Banza.

Durban’s University of Technology is hosting the tournament as teams try and qualify for the inaugural Youth Games in Singapore.

The South Africans beat Liberia 3-0 (25-16 25-18 25-13) and Morocco went down 3-0 to the DR Congo.

The South Africans started off  while patiently building up a strong lead. Their efforts were rewarded with a 16-11 lead which put them in a commanding position to win the opening set. SA’s star performers, skipper Dean Layters who did not put a foot wrong, explosive attacker, Gerald Chetty and the effervescent middle attacker Colin Wessels combined well to register a 25-16 first set win.

What frustrated the Liberian attack force more was that Colin Wessels and the tall and strongly built Velisa Ntshuntshe seriously limited their chances of putting points on the board with their huge out stretched hand that penetrated their space during the execution of the block.

Whenever local lad, Gerald Chetty powered his way past the blockers the home fans celebrated his achievement with loud cheering. SA went on to register a 25-18 second set win that killed even the smallest spark of resistance from their visitors.

However had the Liberians exploited SA’s glaring weakness in picking up the ‘dinks’ into unguarded areas of the court, the ‘do or die’ third set could have gone their way. Chetty, Layters, Wessels, Ntshuntshe and Thompson closed the set with a  25-17 win.

In the other game, fans were stunned by tournament dark horses RDC who crushed Morocco in straight sets.

Using their powerful jump service to full advantage, DR Congo eased into a 16-9 lead which forced the Moroccans onto the back foot. The occasional resistance from the North Africans, especially from Soufiane Faraji and Soufiane Lamnine did not deter the DRC as they closed proceedings with a sparkling 25-13 first set win.

When the Moroccans took the fight to their high riding opponents, they were rewarded with a few quick points that brought them close to taking the lead for the first time. How ever, Morocco’s chances of upsetting DRC were dashed when playmaker Amine Zayani’s sets gave his attackers little or no chance of passing DRC’s huge blocks. With DRC’s left handed maestro, Tshanga Tshibangu in devastating form, the Moroccans were forced to concede defeat by a 25-21 margin.

With service reception errors rearing its ugly head from time to time in the Moroccan team, Coach Said Montaouakil’s team stared defeat in the face when the Congolese team posted a 19-12 lead. Solid blocking from DRC’s ‘twin-towers’, Mbuli Inginda and Tshanga Tstugangu further frustrated the North Africans who had no option but to roll over and play dead. DRC raced to a commanding 25-14 win in double quick time in the third set.

The technical meeting was held at the Coastlands Convention Centre in Durban on Sunday with CAVB’s First Vice President Tubby Reddy presiding as the Control Committee President.

The Control Committee President extended a special welcome to  the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia for going to great lengths in making the trip to South Africa a reality. Morocco were also welcomed as a seasoned campaigner at this level of competition.

Reddy confirmed that the competition will begin on Wednesday, March 3 with the final round robin matches being played on Saturday (March 6). The winner of the competition will be the African continent’s representative at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August this year.

All matches will be played at the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Fred Crookes Sport Centre.

The draw for the competition is as follows:
Wednesday, March 3: 5pm    DRC v Morocco
7pm    Liberia v South Africa

Thursday, March 4:    5pm    Morocco v Liberia
7pm    South Africa v DRC

Friday, March 5:     Rest Day

Saturday, March 6:  3pm   DRC  v Liberia
5pm   South Africa v Morocco

The duo beat Gershon Rorich and Dominic Goliath 21-19 21-18 in the final of the competition that boasted prize money of R30,000.

Tournament favourites from Cape Town, Freedom Chiya and Grant Goldschmidt, soon found the going too tough and bowed out in the semi-final stage to the more experienced Rorich and the effervescent Goliath.

Rorich and his former beach volleyball partner, Colin Pocock teamed up in the South Africans colours at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, finishing a creditable ninth place, the best ever for an African team in a global contest. This time round Rorich joined forces with Dominic Goliath, taking the favourites out in straight sets, 21-19 21-13.
The finalists did not disappoint the fans as they came out with guns blazing that propelled the fans to dizzy heights.

With former partners, Pocock and Rorich being territorial at the net, it was busy bodies Wentzel and Goliath whose on court flair and athleticism kept the crowd on the edge of their seats in the final.

While both teams unleashed attack after attack in a bid to get the other to wilt under pressure, the amazing back court pick-ups left fans breathless after cheering every move.

After Pocock gained the upper hand at the net, Rorich and Goliath went down by a slender 21-19 margin. Pocock and Wentzel closed proceedings with a 21-18 win in the second set to walk away with the winners’ cheque.

The women’s final saw national indoor team skipper, Palesa Sekhonyana and her Bulgarian teammate, Krizstina Maygyor proving too strong for Kirsten Pocock and Andrea. The former combination won the contest with a 21-15 21-15 scoreline.

The next round of the SA Beach Volleyball takes place in Cape Town from 18-20 December.

RESULTS
SEMI-FINALS
Men:
Gershon Rorich/Dominic Goliath bt Freedom Chiya/Grant Goldschmidt (21-19 21-13), Colin Pocock/Ryan Wentzel bt Adrian Strydom/Grant Viljoen (21-19 21-16)
Women
Palesa Sekhonyana/Krizstina Maygyor bt Dories Ramela/Stimbele Cele (21-18 21-16), Kirsten Pocock/Andrea bt Shaney/Danni (21-12 21-10)

BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
Men
Freedom Chiya/Grant Goldschmidt bt Adrian Strydom/Grant Viljoen (18-21 21-15 21-10)
Women
Dories Ramela/Stimbele Cele bt Shaney/Danni (21-13 21-12)

GOLD MEDAL MATCH
Men
Colin Pocock/Ryan Wentzel bt Gershon Rorich/Dominic Goliath (21-19 21-18)
Women
Palesa Sekhonyana/Krizstina Maygyor bt Kirsten Pocock/Andrea (21-15 21-15)