24 Mar 2025

Spiking Stars Volleyball Club women are preparing for the 2025 Women Africa Club Championship to be in Abuja, Nigeria from April 1 to 14.

Africa’s top 24 teams are expected to participate in the tournament.

Spiking Stars team manager, Thabo Tlale said in an interview that while preparations were going well, they were in need of financial assistance.

Tlale said they had received P250 000 financial assistance from the Botswana National Sports Commission, which would cover air tickets for some of the team members.

An additional P250 000, he said was needed to cover accommodation, food and travel while in Abuja.

Therefore, he appealed to the business community and individuals to assist so as to make their dream a success.

“We are hopeful that in the few days left, help will come our way and make our participation in the championship possible,” he said.

Tlale said it would be the country’s greatest achievement for the team to make it to the championship since it had been a while without having volleyball representation on the international stage.

He said Spiking Stars participation would go a long way in growing volleyball in the country.

“We will not be Spiking Stars Volleyball Club when in Abuja, but we are representing the country and we shall be referred to as a women’s volleyball team from Botswana. That is why I was appealing to everyone who has the ability to assist us to kindly do so. Those little contributions will go a long way in making sure that we depart for Abuja, Nigeria as per our plan,” he said.

He further said they had wished to engage in some friendly matches with volleyball teams from some neighbouring countries.

However, he said such a plan would be hampered by financial constraints.

Currently, he said they were using the ongoing volleyball league to prepare for the Abuja championship.

The club had assembled a 20-member delegation, which has 14 players, match official, medical officer, head of delegation, team member, coach and assistant coach. Ends