The Tanzania national volleyball team has entered the final stage of preparations as the technical bench works to select a 14-player squad that will represent the country in the Africa Zone Five Championships scheduled for June in Uganda.
Head coach of the national team, “Almas King” Amanuel Esayas, said the team is currently undergoing intensive training at Don Bosco grounds in Upanga, Dar es Salaam, where more than 20 players are in camp competing for places in the final squad.
Esayas said the selection process has become highly competitive due to the presence of experienced players who have previously featured in international competitions, as well as others who are gaining exposure through professional leagues abroad.
He noted that the level of performance and discipline shown in training has impressed the technical bench, making the final selection process more demanding.
“We are progressing well with our preparations. The players are performing at a good level, and there is strong competition as we work towards selecting the final squad,” said Esayas.
However, the coach pointed out that the team is facing a key challenge of limited friendly matches, which are essential in assessing combinations, building chemistry, and testing tactical approaches ahead of the tournament.
He explained that friendly matches would have provided a better opportunity for the technical team to evaluate players under competitive conditions and improve overall coordination before facing regional opponents.
Esayas added that the technical bench is expected to finalize the squad in the coming days, after which the selected players will continue with focused preparations before travelling to Uganda to represent Tanzania.
The Africa Zone Five Championships will bring together national teams from East and Central Africa, offering a crucial platform for competition, talent exposure, and development of the sport in the region.
Tanzania is using the tournament as part of its broader efforts to strengthen volleyball development and build a more competitive national team capable of performing strongly in future continental and international events.
