AUTORIDADE Tribatania of Mozambique emerged champions of the 2012 Zone Six Volleyball Club Championship after beating arch rivals Red Skins of Lesotho 2-1 in a keenly contested final played at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka at the weekend.

Autoridade started the game on a high note and it was no surprise when they won the first set 25-21 but found the going tough in the second quarter as Skins came back more rejuvenated winning 25-19.

The game got more interesting in the third quarter as both teams exchanged high level spiking and blocking skills with the Skins enjoying advantage and took a third set 24-19 lead which they squandered allowing Autoridade to come from behind and win the final set 26-24.

With Zambian teams already eliminated, the only consolation for the host nation came after Kamwala Magic captain Tilabilenji Mvunga was voted best blocker of the tournament in the women category.

KNVC player Martha Anreas won the Best Serve miniature award with Mabona Nthabiseng of Red Skins emerging the Best Receiver, Baji Lekedzani of Kutlwano was the Best Setter while her team mates Tracy Chaba came out as the Best Spiker and Most Valuable player and Tshekiso Merapelo as the Best Libero.

In the men's category, Agisanag Kurinana was the Best Sever with Marumo Tsitso of Red Skins emerging Best Receiver, Aiberto Martinho of Autoridade came out Best Setter while Luis Carrieire of Autoridade got the Best Spiker prize.

Best Blocker went to Belton Mpandsulo of Autoridade while Letsie Motlagkmosi of Red Skins scooped the best Libero prize.

Delcio Soare of Autoridade came out the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony, Zone Six Volleyball president William Nhlapo commended the Zambia Volleyball Association (ZAVA) for organising the tournament in a very conducive atmosphere.

Nhlapo said the tournament was well organised and that the regional body was thinking of giving Zambia the honour to also host the Volleyball Nation's championship next year in September.

Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili expressed gratitude to the Zone Six Volleyball Federation for giving Zambia an opportunity for hosting the tournament which the country last hosted in 1998.

Kambwili, in a speech read for him by Sports Permanent Secretary Agnes Musunga, said hosting of the Zone Six Volleyball Games would not have come at a better time than now when the country was preparing to host the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) Zone Six Under 20 Youth Games.

The minister said Government would advocate on behalf of ZAVA that the Zone Six committee should consider giving Zambia the rights to host the Senior National Volleyball Championships the next time they would be held.

ZAVA president Gabriel Muyinda described the tournament as a huge success.