Rural-Based AM Volleyball Club Sends Two Athletes to Represent Zimbabwe at Beach Volleyball Tournament in Mozambique

In an inspiring milestone for grassroots sports development, AM Volleyball Club from Wayerera Village in Bindura has announced that two of its players, Nigel Banda and Charles Chitedzi, will represent Zimbabwe at the Confederation of African Volleyball Zone VI Beach Volleyball Series. The event is taking place from May 23 to 25 in Maputo, Mozambique.

The duo received an official farewell at a ceremony held in Manhenga, which drew key provincial officials including Mashonaland Central’s Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Christopher Magomo, and Sports and Recreation Commission provincial manager James Magara, along with his team. Their presence highlighted the growing importance of rural talent in shaping the future of national sports.

AM Volleyball Club, founded and coached by Aaron Mutede, has become a standout example of how sports can thrive in non-urban areas with limited resources. The club has managed to nurture competitive athletes by leveraging locally available materials—sand, a ball, and a net—demonstrating that success does not require elaborate infrastructure.

Beyond athletic performance, the club’s focus lies in using volleyball as a developmental tool to guide youth towards more productive and focused lifestyles. Through structured after-school programs and training sessions at their development hub in Manhenga, the initiative actively works to counter the rising threat of drug abuse among young people in the region.

AM Volleyball Academy, the club’s training extension, has been instrumental in identifying and developing talent from rural communities. Its mission includes building self-confidence in youth, encouraging discipline, and fostering long-term ambitions such as competing in international tournaments or even reaching the Olympics.

The selection of Banda and Chitedzi to represent Zimbabwe is not only a proud achievement for the club but also a powerful validation of the potential that exists in rural communities when supported with vision and opportunity. Their journey from the rural fields of Wayerera to the continental beach volleyball stage reflects the dedication of both the athletes and the community backing them.

This latest development positions AM Volleyball Club as a leader in rural sports empowerment and showcases how investment in grassroots talent can produce national representatives ready to compete at the highest levels.