Volleyball seniors aim to do SA proud

THEY might be past their prime, but the ballies of Liberte Volleyball Club are determined to test their skills on the international scene.

The Tongaat-based team won the coveted ethekwini Masters Tournament recently after they beat SAPS Gauteng in a thrilling final.

It has been a glittering past few months for the club, who won the ethekwini Masters (35-39 age category) and the inaugural Michael Govender Memorial Cup last year.

They are now targeting a berth at the 2018 Asia Pacific Masters Games, to be held in Malaysia.

The tournament, which is hosted by the International Masters Games Association, is open to teams from around the globe.

“Our team is excited and very pleased with our recent victory,” said captain Kiruben Naicker.

“We feel that we played a good brand of entertaining volleyball and that we have assembled a side that can be competitive in our age category at the worlds.”

Naicker, who scooped the Most Valuable Player award at the recent masters, said they had an exciting group of players who had been together for more than two decades.

Along with veteran playmaker Kiresh Harilal – the winner of the best setter award following a masterful display in the final – the team boasts an impressive collection of provincial and national caps.

“We are all home-grown players,” Naicker said.

“We have come through the ranks having played for Liberte since our junior days. Before masters level, we had players in the national team at all levels.

“Players have also been part of Liberte teams that won Volleyball SA’S Champions Cup on three occasions.”

With experienced coach Jayson Govender pulling the strings, Naicker believes they can make a big impact in Penang.

He said: “We strongly believe in our team’s ability.

“We have a good mix of experience and newly turned over-40 players. Jayson Govender’s tactical awareness will guide us through.”

Their biggest stumbling block en route to Asia is a lack of sponsorship.

“We hope to raise sponsorship to fund our trip,” Naicker said.

“Our fund-raising initiatives will include a golf day, dinner and dance as well as hosting a volleyball tournament.”