The Mole in Swakopmund played host to the CAVB Zone VI Leg 4 Beach Volleyball Tournament, attracting teams from across Southern Africa for three days of intense competition and regional rivalry.

Mozambique and Angola emerged as the standout nations, claiming gold in the women’s and men’s divisions respectively, while Namibia recorded encouraging top four finishes on home soil. In the men’s competition, Angola’s Carlos and Afonso proved unstoppable, going unbeaten throughout the group stage before securing gold in the final.

The Angolan pair defeated South Africa’s von Ludwiger and Otsweleng in straight sets, winning 21–13 and 21–12 to claim the title. Mozambique’s Mondlane and Denilson secured the bronze medal, while Namibia’s Krafft brothers produced an impressive performance to finish fourth.

Carlos and Afonso dominated Group D, winning all eight sets during the group stage. In the women’s competition, Mozambique’s Nadia and Verónica produced a similarly dominant display, sweeping their group before overpowering Namibia’s Curschmann and van Doorn in the final.

The Mozambican pair won convincingly in straight sets, 21–10 and 21–11, to secure the women’s gold medal. South Africa’s Pocock and Webber claimed bronze, while Namibia’s Von Wietersheim and Rogl finished fourth. Nadia and Verónica went unbeaten in Group A, winning all six sets, while South Africa’s Pocock and Webber topped Group B with four victories. Namibia’s two top four finishes in the women’s division provided further encouragement for the host nation as the country continues to develop its beach volleyball programme.

The tournament highlighted the growing standard of beach volleyball in Southern Africa, with Mozambique and Angola once again demonstrating their strength at regional level. For Namibia, the strong performances on home soil offered a positive indication of the country’s potential to compete more consistently for medals in future CAVB Zone VI competitions.

By Rudi Bowe