Volleyball Association of Malawi President Kaunda hails FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme as source of hope

James Kaunda has served in the Volleyball Association of Malawi for 12 years but he describes the last three years, where he has been at the helm as President as unique. Not least because of the project via FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme that has energised the National Federation’s quest to transform Malawian volleyball.

Through the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme, Malawi has received equipment support, coach support and knowledge transfer totaling 126,000 CHF since 2020. The latest support approved for this year will see the country benefit from referee development and sports management training in addition to coach support.

Kaunda attributes the renaissance of Malawian volleyball to one Thulani Maphosa, a FIVB Instructor appointed in 2021 as part of a Volleyball Empowerment coach support project. 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 the FIVB has renewed his contract for another year (2023) to allow him to continue the project in Malawi.

Through the support, Maphosa is also training local coaches to ensure Malawi’s volleyball development is sustainable. In addition, the National Federation has also already identified four referees to receive training with a view to becoming international referees.

For Maphosa, taking up the Malawi project was a no-brainer.

Within one and half years of Volleyball Empowerment support, Malawi has a solid youth structure with around 15 development centres spread all over the country. In addition to that, 37 grassroot coaches have undergone refresher courses and put in charge of the development centres.

Female beach volleyball players pose for a photo during the first national beach volleyball tournament at Salima beach in Malawi. (Photo credits: VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION OF MALAWI)

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 neighbouring 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 6 tour held in Zambia last year. This team was selected after the first ever national beach volleyball tournament held in 2022.

Local coaches pose with instructors after a coaching course held in Malawi. (Photo credits: VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION OF MALAWI)

However, the greatest achievement so far has been the bronze medal won by the boys’ U17 national team during the African Union Region Five held in Malawi. Zimbabwe won gold followed by South Africa. The Malawian girls team settled sixth.

Coach Maphosa has noted how the success of the Volleyball Empowerment project has helped other bodies like the National Olympic Committee to see the potential of volleyball in the country and support the National Federation.

Next phase
With all stakeholders on board, Maphosa is excited about the next phase of the project that will take in more national volleyball team competitions and the development of beach volleyball.

Maphosa has highlighted how he wants the men’s and women’s national teams to develop at the same pace, while also facilitating communication with various regions to ensure young talent is developed properly.