The Sunday Mail
— Picture: Kudakwashe Hunda
Brighton Zhawi in Mozambique
Zimbabwe’s Support Unit will play their first ever Confederation of African Volleyball Region V Club Championships semi-final match against University of Zambia at the Pavilhao do Maxaquene today.
The Policemen re-wrote their own history books at this competition with a hard fought 3-2 (25-19,23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 15-8) over 2011winners, Red Skins of Lesotho at the Pavilhao do Maxaquene Thursday evening.
It is the first time for Gondo Haraishayi, as Support Unit are called, to play in the last four in three attempts, having been quarter-finalists in Zambia (2012) and Botswana last year.
New stage, new pressure?
Support Unit coach Itsanang Abu Basuthu is eying a final berth despite facing “tricky customers”, who walloped another Zimbabwean team, Naba 1-3 (19-25, 14-25, 25-15, 16-25) Thursday.
“We are saying God is with us for letting us get to the semis,now we are looking forward to go to the finals, but we still have to work hard again.
“We are facing very tricky customers, but we have been facing such teams for the whole tournament, so it is nothing new,” he said.
His Zambian counterpart Lloyd Mweemba confessed fear of Zimbabwean teams, but did not rule out surprises from his boys.
“I revere Zimbabwean teams, my target was not to meet Botswana or Zimbabwe teams,” he said.
“Initially we were targeting the quarter finals, but now that we have gone to the semi- finals anything can happen.
“It’s a success for us reaching the semi-final with our young team, anything that will come our way is a plus, my boys know we have no pressure and that will make them play a very good game,” said Mweemba.
Support Unit where in an inspired fluent start versus Red Skins, with impressive strong blocking to assume a quick 8-4 lead.
They maintained their advantage despite a mid-set wobble that saw opponents reduce the deficit to 3 scores at 13-16,that forced Support Unit coach Basuthu to call time –out.
The move proved fruitful as Red Skins served poorly on resumption, with Support Unit edging closer to claim the opening set.
They eventually won it 25-19.
They sluggishly started the second set falling to an easy 0-3, but an on-fire Douglas Choto helped his team recover and overturn scores.
However, just like the preceding set, mid-set struggles resurfaced allowing opponents to restore parity at 18-all.
Support Unit were put under pressure for the first time in the match and they succumbed to surrender it 23-25.
The match was still much alive.
The set lose was a wake-up call for the Zimbabweans who began the third set brightly easing to a12-6 lead before winning it 25-18.
Sloppiness at the start of the fourth set saw them trail the whole game they went on to lose 19-25 as Red Skins gave it all to stay alive.
It was time for the decider, history or exiting was imminent for the Zimbabwean Policemen.
They came out on fire assuming quick control at 10-5, Red Skins could only manage three more scores as Support Unit broke their quarter-finals barriers with a Kudzanai Chironga score.
