Central clubs dominate NVF Cup first leg

Four teams from the Central Volleyball Association (CVA) made it to the Bank Windhoek Namibian Volleyball Federation (NVF) Cup semi-finals after the first round of the competition at Rundu on Saturday.

In the men’s section, Afrocat C and CVA League winner NamPower made it to the last four stage, with NDF Phoenix and Unam Queens doing the same in the women’s section.

Only one of the CVA men’s teams can make it to the finals though, given that Afrocat and NamPower will again face each other in the semis, in a mouthwatering rematch of the final game of the CVA League season.

NamPower had already wrapped up league honours by the time of the clash and finished the season in style by beating Afrocat.

This time the stakes are high, as both teams have eyes on a spot in the final and the coveted cup.

The semi-final leg showdowns are scheduled to take place inside the MTC Dome at Swakopmund on 2 November.

“We performed our first round without losing a game. I’m very proud as a coach and I think the management of Afrocat and all the fans are very proud of the performance from the boys,” said Afrocat head coach Ishitile Aloysius over the weekend.

They are looking forward to turning the tables on NamPower, he said.

“I’m not really afraid of them, we have an opportunity now,” Aloysius said.

“I have a whole month to work on my boys. I’m not saying Afrocat will win the game or NamPower will win the game, but I’m going to put up a very tough game and I will make sure that the team that wins must have worked extra hard.”

CVA teams won’t face each other in the women’s semis, with Unam Queens taking on the Zambezi Vixens and league winners NDF Phoenix battling Nakapale from the Far North League.

CVA chairperson Veronica Sampapi says it was not surprising that four teams from their league made it to the semi-finals, attributing it to quality coaching available to the clubs.

“I’m not surprised at all. I actually expected it. I didn’t even watch the round one games because I knew all my teams would qualify to go to the finals because they are all really good teams,” Sampapi says.

“We have really good experienced coaches who are working with these players, so that’s boosting us.”