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Madibaz beach-volleyball players Unam Xhala, left, and Irene Phiri qualified for the national trials in Johannesburg after winning their section in an Eastern Cape tournament recently.
The duo qualified for the final after going through their pool matches undefeated.
That victory meant they were one of three teams from the province to receive invites to the trials, scheduled for March 14 and 15 in Johannesburg.
Xhala, 21, said the triumph reflected the progress she had made over the past two years.
Her first competitive action in the outdoor discipline came at the 2024 Splash Festival in Gqeberha.
“When you are used to indoor volleyball, it can be difficult to adapt to the sand,” the environmental health student from Mandela University explained.
She kept at it and gradually became more comfortable with the rules and movement required.
Xhala, who is more accustomed to representing the Madibaz indoors as a setter and power player, said she enjoyed the unique challenge.
“There are no specific positions because there are only two players, so you have to do everything.”
That includes dives and rallies but, more importantly, it’s the chemistry between teammates that really counts.
Now that she is off to prove her worth at national level, she is keen to prove that she belongs.
Phiri, 24, said the three pool matches before the one-off final had been hard work, but she had been pleased to “come through strongly”.
“It was a positive win for us; it gives us confidence going into the national trials.”
Like her teammate, the financial-planning student began her beach volleyball journey two years ago at the Splash, placing fourth.
Her indoor resume includes being outside hitter for the Madibaz since 2022 and earning selection for the national university squad the following season.
She was a member of the team who won the Confederation of University and College Sports Association Games tournament.
Phiri agreed that the beach discipline demanded a very different skills-set.
“You play all over the court. It’s much tougher physically because it tests your ability in every aspect of the game.”
It was also important to gel with and rely on your partner, essentially “have each other’s backs”, she explained.
Bernard Petersen, longtime volleyball manager at Madibaz Sport, praised the duo’s achievement, saying their success highlighted the potential of the sport in the region.
He noted that the code’s major challenge was a lack of structured competitions as “most matches are organised socially”.
“Ideally, we would like to build a dedicated beach volleyball court at one of the Madibaz campuses. That would help grow the sport.”