Fifth edition of UKZN Sport National Masters Volleyball Championship draws record field

A record men’s field of 24 teams while nine female sides will ascend on Durban this weekend for the sport’s premier tournament hosted jointly by eThekwini Volleyball and Legends Social Volleyball (LSV).

What began as a humble attempt to bring veteran players back to the game has transformed into a thrilling competition attracting players from all over the country. 

The beauty of the competition is that it encompasses all types of teams from star studded outfits, brimming with former national stars to clubs, comprising of social players who simply love the sport. 

The action is set to take place between 17-18 August and will be staged at the UKZN Westville Sports Centre.

“We are looking forward to welcoming a huge contingent of players from around the country for what is expected to be another exciting tournament,” eThekwini Volleyball president, Venai Naicker said. 

The draw for the competition was concluded last weekend and has dished out some spicy clashes in the first round of the competition. 

“Excitement has been building around this event for some time now. We know that teams have been training hard. This tournament really allows players to roll back the years and spectators can once again look forward to thrilling rallies and all-round good volleyball,” Naicker added.

To kick the tournament off, organisers will host a ‘unity match’ on Friday evening, played between mixed teams of women and men to pay homage to the tournament’s major theme,  #MastersUnite. 

“Jointly hosting the tournament will unify our efforts with both the social and competitive volleyball fraternity under one banner of Volleyball South Africa,” LSV President Charles Naidoo said. 

“We believe the experience we create throughout the year, for masters clubs, players, families, fans and supporters, captures the true value of a unified South African democracy through volleyball,” he added. 

Once again the competition will be staged in the best four court venue in the country. Roshnee Naicker of UKZN says it is primed and ready to host another major event. 

“We have enjoyed a fruitful relationship with this tournament over the years. We know how much the teams enjoy playing at our venue and we are looking forward to welcoming them and hundreds of spectators over the weekend,” Naicker concluded.