Coach sings team’s praises
KZN Kingdom Rhinos’ head coach Jayson Govender is a very pleased man after his young team ascended to the top of the inaugural National Volleyball League (NVL) standings with straightset victories over the North West Dynamites and Free State Giants at the University of KwaZuluNatal’s Westville Campus Sports Centre at the weekend.
Govender, of Tongaat, heaped praise on Chatsworth youngster Quwin Naidoo who played a superb role in captaining the team and spearheading the Rhinos attack force since the start of the league a fortnight ago.
“Quwin brings to the team a wealth of experience, both as a leader and a go-to player when the team needs to ‘side out’ and accelerate its points scoring,” said Govender of the player who has international captaincy experience.
Naidoo led the South African under-21 team in an African Continental Championship in Libya a few years ago.
“The success that we achieved thus far over the six provincial teams over the last two weekends is based on the luxury of having the services of three quality setters, Sholen Govender, Hiresh Harilal and Ryaan Lahldas, a former SA national team playmaker. Each brings a unique quality to get the best out of the attackers, Preegan Gungarajh, Sandile Khoza, Devin O’ Regan and Quwin,” added Govender.
“I am confident that with in-form middle blockers Brandon Govender and Loushen Gungarajh our defence at the net will play a crucial role in our final two matches against Western Cranes (Western Cape) and Gauteng Thunderbolts that will determine which of the three teams will lift the inaugural NVL silverware on March 25,” said Govender.
Meanwhile, the NVL beach volleyball competition played at Durban’s New Beach is dominated by the Western Cape, with front runners Grant Goldschmidt and Leo Williams (men) and Randy Williams and Kristen Delcarme (women) tipped to reach the winners podium as gold medallists and pocket a lion’s share of the R100 000 prize money on offer.