Mozambique won both the men’s and women’s titles as the curtains fell on the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) Zone VI Beach Volleyball Tour last weekend in Maputo, Mozambique.

The eighth and final leg, initially planned for Vilanculos, Mozambique from 1 to 5 March, was moved to 15 to 20 March in Maputo due to bad weather conditions.

The 2022/23 Zone VI Beach Volleyball Tour, which started in Maputo in February 2022, had eight stops with both South Africa and Mozambique hosting two legs. Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Lesotho all hosted one leg each.

Overall winners of the Tour received USD 1,400 while runners-up were awarded USD 900. Third and fourth placed teams received USD 700 and USD 500 respectively. 

The pair of Ainadino Martinho and Jorge Monjane from Mozambique finished third in the eighth leg held in Maputo to earn 192 points which secured them gold with a final tally of 1,560 points.

Botswana’s Jack Sekao and George Chiswaniso amassed a total of 1,368 points to win the silver medal ahead of another Mozambican team of José Mondlane and Osvaldo Mungoi who finished third with 1,224 points.

In the women’s category, Mozambique once again reigned supreme with Ana Paula Sinaportar and Vanessa Muianga winning the final leg in Maputo to increase their tally to 1,680 points. 

Sinaportar/Muianga won all seven legs they participated in, apart from the fourth leg held in Zambia, which they missed.

The youthful pair of Angela Tembe and Natalia Integro, also from Mozambique, settled for silver with a total of 1,272 points. Progress Gasa and Levenia Marange of Zimbabwe emerged third overall with 1,164 points to take home the bronze medal.

Mozambique’s Osvaldo Mungoi (right) and Ainadino Martinho in action during the eighth and final leg of CAVB Zone VI Beach Volleyball Tour (Photo credits: CAVB ZONE VI)

Zone VI President Khalid Cassam thanked the FIVB for its financial support which helped in footing the Tour’s budget as well as prize money for the top performers.

“We are grateful to the FIVB for its annual financial support through the USD 30,000 grants that ensured we had enough budget to sustain the Tour. We did not play for two years due to COVID-19 pandemic, but the FIVB kept sending us support which we consolidated to hold the Tour. 

“Zone VI also won the FIVB Best Zonal Association of 2022 award of USD 10,000. The FIVB used this fund to pay the total prize money of USD 5,000 per gender directly into the players’ accounts which was a good motivation for the participating teams.  This has made players appreciate the Tour more and will encourage them to participate in the next edition,” said Cassam.

(from left to right) CAVB President Bouchra Hajij, FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F° and Zone VI President Khalid Cassam

Cassam noted that the Tour has also made beach volleyball more popular in the Zone with more countries embracing the sport.

“When we started the Tour, only three countries, South Africa, Angola and Mozambique, were playing beach volleyball regularly but the introduction of the Tour has encouraged more countries to play and even host competitions,” said Cassam.

“Nine out of 10 countries now have the infrastructure to host competitions which is a good achievement for the Zone. The effect was seen in the last three legs of the Tour where we had different teams emerging as winners.”

The 2023 Tour will have five stops, with the first one scheduled for 7 to 9 April in Swakopmund, Namibia.