Swakopmund
Last weekend the Swakopmund Indoor Sports Complex (the Dome) became the scene of a volleyball spectacle in the form of the 2016 Bank Windhoek Tournament.
A record 32 teams did battle for the N$20 000 prize money up for grabs. Thirteen ladies and 18 men’s teams took to the four courts that covered the space of the Dome for the weekend.
With local teams from as far away as Rundu, Katima Mulilo and Oshakati – and as a special treat an invitation team TV 1875 Bremen from Germany participating in the event – it proved to be a celebration of volleyball to be remembered.
Title sponsors Bank Windhoek provided the winner’s purse of N$20 000 split into N$5 000 for 1st place, N$3 000 for 2nd place and N$2 000 for 3rd place in each category, respectively.
With the facility set up by the expert team of the Dome, using the Olympic specification playing surface, the level of play was greatly enhanced and spectators were treated to some top-of-the-shelf play.
In the end, the German team from Bremen proved just too resilient for the top-seeded SKW Ladies team who had to make do with 2nd place, while Revivals beat NDF to snatch 3rd place in the ladies category.
On the men’s side, favourites Khomas Nampol were pushed to the end by Unam Main Campus and had to prove their mettle by closing out the match in a 5-set tiebreak to take top honours.
In the match for 3rd and 4th spot, NDF managed to overcome the team of the Namibian Navy in a 3-set tiebreak and not leave the event empty handed.