Volleyball back in action

MUKWIMA CHILALA writes THE Zambia Volleyball Association (ZAVA) says volleyball activities will resume this month and has put in measures to comply with the new normal. ZAVA General Secretary Gift Chesekela says the National League will start in August 2020 with only one inter provincial trip per month with a maximum of two trips for the season to minimize the use of public accommodation and catering facilities. Chesekela said teams all clubs could resume training in small groups of up to a maximum of 16 participants while maintaining social distancing and complying with the health guidelines per Public Health Act chapter 295 read together with Statutory Instruments No. 21 and 22. He said that the training and competition venues should be assessed and certified by health inspectors prior to use to ensure precautions are taken to minimize risk to those participating in volleyball activities. He noted that Clubs must take prompt action to ensure clearance of training venues by their Local/District Medical Authorities.  Chesekela said that all under 16 competitions remain suspended until further notice but that athletes aged between 13 and 16 years old will be allowed to train He said that ZAVA will hold at least one national conventional tournament, one national sitting volleyball tournament and one national beach volleyball tournament this year. The ZAVA General Secretary noted that to manage hygiene and COVID-19 preventive maintenance requirements, there shall not be more than four games per indoor court each day and only three games per outdoor court. He said that all courts shall have a one hour cleaning and disinfection break between games.  ZAVA had in March this year suspended all its activities following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic that had also resulted in government banning all sports and social activities to which some of the activities have now been opened. The Sun