By GWEN CHIPASULA –
THE Zambian men and women volleyball teams started their 2015 All Africa Games (AAG) qualifiers on a bad note after losing their opening matches to hosts Botswana.
With only two of the six teams assured of qualification to the AAG finals set for Congo Brazzaville on September 4-19, Zambia Volleyball Association (ZAVA) general secretary Charles Haambote is still confident of qualifying.
The men’s team lost 3-1 with set scores of 25-23, 15-25, 25-23, 25-23 while the women failed to win a set in their 3-0 trouncing losing 25-11, 25-3 and 25-14.
Haambote was hopeful that the Zambian teams would pick up victories over Mozambique whom they were expected to play last night before taking on Zimbabwe today.
Lesotho and Malawi are the other two sides taking part in the qualifiers that started on Tuesday and ends on Sunday.
“I feel there has been an improvement from our players and hope is not lost because we can qualify. We are confident that we shall qualify, our chances are high because we cannot see much competition with our next opponents,” he said.