Harare International School bask in volleyball glory
HARARE International School sports director Todd Meyer has hailed the institution’s volleyball team after their exploits in the International Schools Association of Southern and Eastern Africa (ISSEA) in Ethiopia last weekend.
The exclusive league consists of eight schools drawn from Southern and Eastern Africa.
This is the first time Harare International School have won the boys’ volleyball competition.
“I am extremely proud of our volleyball players. They worked hard and showed dedication and perseverance. For me, as the sports director, these are the most important traits I look for in my sports teams. We are a small school (350 students in total: boys and girls in junior and senior school combined) so for us to be able to compete against the bigger schools our players need to show these character traits,” said Meyer.
“Nine players representing us against four other countries travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the ISSEA volleyball competition. They all have a passion for sport and some hope to get sports scholarships in different universities”.
It is the progress the school has taken over a short period of time that has charmed even neutrals, given they were fifth the last time they participated in the same competition in February. “We last took part in ISSEA volleyball in February of 2022 and came fifth. The improvement has been massive.
“We keep working hard and defend our title next October. This is an annual competition that usually take place in October. Due to Covid-19 the previous addition was in February.”
The team’s achievements have been hailed by the Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, Vangelis Peter Haritatos, whose son, Damian, was part of the team and he was awed by their performance.
“I am so proud of my son, Damian, and his team.
“They raised the Zimbabwean flag high. “They are a team of fine young gentlemen who will certainly grow from strength to strength and continue to excel,” said Min Haritatos.
“When I was in high school I did the same tournament but the best we could do was come second. At only 15 years of age, he is doing better than his father. As his Sekuru would always say, ‘Kubereka kwakanaka!!!’”
Harare International School is already looking to win more school competitions this year and beyond.