Malawi has qualified for the second phase of technical and financial support from International Volleyball Federation (Fivb) after meeting all the requirements that were set.

The initiative is aimed at reviving national teams in countries where they have been dormant.

Part of the action in a previous volleyball match

Through the Fivb Volleyball Empowerment programme, Malawi has received equipment and coach support as well as knowledge transfer worth about K18 million since 2020.

In an interview on Tuesday, Volleyball Association of Malawi (VAM) president James Kaunda said the second phase will see the association benefiting from referee development and sports management training in addition to coach support.

He said: “We registered a number of positives with Fivbsupport, including national tea,s’ revival.

“We are thankful to Fivb for extending their support to Malawi.”

Kaunda attributeed the sport’s revival to Thulani Maphosa, a Fivb   instructor appointed in 2021 as part of a volleyball empowerment coach support project.

He said: “After completing an initial three-month coach support project in 2021, Maphosa returned for a 12-month project in 2022. So positive was Thulani’s impact that  Fivb has renewed his contract for another year.

“Through the support, Maphosa is also training local coaches to ensure Malawi’s volleyball development is sustainable.

“In addition, VAM has also identified four referees for an international course.”

In a separate interview, Maphosa said the Volleyball Empowerment Project has helped other bodies like the Malawi Olympic Committee appreciate the sport’s potential in the country and support VAM.

He said within one-and-a-half years of volleyball empowerment support, Malawi has a solid youth structure with at least 15 development centres spread all over the country.

In addition, 37 grassroots coaches have undergone refresher courses and have been put in charge of the development centres.

Said Maphosa: “Three regional leagues have been established with talks of having a fully sponsored unified national league at an advanced stage. The country has hosted an international tournament with clubs from neighboring countries like Tanzania and Zambia taking part.

“In beach volleyball, the national team [both men and women] took part in the fourth leg of Cavb Zone VI tourney in Zambia last year.”

He said the greatest achievement  has been the bronze medal won by the boys’ Under-17 national team during the African Union Region Five Youth Games held in the country last December. 

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