Zambia: Green Buffaloes Volleyball Clubs have qualified to quarter finals of the 2025 Zambia Volleyball Association (ZAVA) Open tournament. The club has won the previous games being played at Ndola Wanderers Falcons Courts.
The girls team softly beat Flight Spikers, the Zambia Police sponsored side- Nkwazi and Red Arrows with 3-0, each to complete top of pool A.
On the other side, the butaah boys beat Muchinga Volleyball Association 3-0, and Prison Leopards with the same margin, to storm the last eight.
Head Coach, Warrant Officer Class One (WOI) Luckson Mazumbo (Rtd) says in an interview that both the male and female teams adequately prepared for the tournament and are ready to defend their titles.
“We are going to defend our titles, and I’m sure it won’t be easy. In the past three years, the men’s team has played 60 games and lost only two. The ladies have played 48 games without a loss,” Mr Mazumbo said.
Last year, both the Butaah boys and girls won the ZAVA Open Championship after going unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Further, Green Buffaloes Coach Mazumbo remains upbeat the teams will retain the titles after assessing and confirming his troops ready for the tournament.
“We have prepared well, covering all areas, and we are ready for the tournament. As champions, we don’t want to lose our edge,” he said.
He said top of his agenda is to win the league for the fourth time in a row and proceed to represent Zambia in the Zone Six Club Championship in Polokwane city, South Africa, and reclaim the title from University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Wolves who beat them 3-1 in Gaborone, Botswana in December last year.
WOI Mazumbo disclosed that the fact that the teams did not make it to the Africa Club Championship this year is a lesson to the team, which he said has realised that complacency can cost them.
Last year, we settled for bronze at Zone Six in Botswana, but this time, we aim for gold.Now, they know how to play with focus and determination,” WOI Mazumbo added.
In the men’s team, Coach Mazumbo is relying on Private Akakandelwa Charles as Middle blocker, with Pte Muyunda Muyunda and Pte Siame Tressy as outside hitters, and Pte Shataulo Mubita as opposite hitter.
His focus is also on Sergeant Phiri and Pte Chama Clement as his setters, with Smart Mwale and Pte Phiri Simon as Liberos
In the girls team, WOI Mazumbo has Pte Sikalundu Malawo and Phydes as Liberos, Corporal Mulenga Brenda, Pte Nankamba Alice, Cpl Mudenda Isabel and Pte Mombotwa Limpo as Middle Blockers and Outside hitters
“We have kept the same team, but we have also signed a player from Zimbabwe to supplement our squad. Command has supported us, and he is expected to join us next week,” WOI Mazumbo said.