27/08/2026
FROM THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE TO AFRICA:
SIMULEZI, KALABA AND CHESEKELA LEAD A NEW CHAPTER FOR SOUTHERN AFRICAN VOLLEYBALL
It is a story of service, discipline, leadership, sacrifice and belief, a story that has taken three members of the Zambia Police Service from their professional duties to one of Africa’s biggest volleyball stages.
At the centre of that story is Sergeant Arnold Simulezi, Head Coach of the Zambia Women’s National Volleyball Team, alongside Constable Annie Kalaba, a key member and leader of the historic national team, and Constable Chesekela Gift, who has reached the highest level of continental officiating.
Together, they have become part of a significant moment for the Republic of Zambia, the Zambia Police Service and CAVB Zone 6 the Southern African volleyball family.
SERGEANT SIMULEZI: A POLICE OFFICER BUILDING A TEAM THAT HAS MADE HISTORY
For Sergeant Arnold Simulezi, the journey to Nairobi is the culmination of years of work in volleyball while serving as an officer of the Zambia Police Service.
Entrusted with the responsibility of leading the national women's team, Simulezi has transformed an opportunity into a historic continental campaign.
His breakthrough came at the CAVB Zone VI Senior LA28 Qualifiers in Harare, Zimbabwe, where Zambia produced a remarkable championship winning performance to secure qualification for the African Nations Championship.
Zambia defeated Malawi 3–0, Namibia 3–1 and hosts Zimbabwe 3–0 in the final, overcoming the disappointment of an earlier 3–2 defeat to Zimbabwe in the round-robin stage.
The response was significant.
Rather than allowing the earlier setback to define the team, Simulezi and his players regrouped, returned stronger and delivered when the championship was on the line.
The reward was Zone VI gold, qualification for the African Nations Championship and recognition for Simulezi as the tournament’s Best Coach.
FROM ZONE 6 CHAMPIONS TO AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Zambia arrived in Nairobi carrying the hopes of Southern African volleyball.
The opening challenge was enormous.
Drawn in Group A with hosts Kenya and Mali, Zambia began its continental campaign against Kenya and suffered a difficult 3–0 defeat.
But the defeat did not end the story.
It became the test from which the team had to respond.
Against Mali, Simulezi's team produced exactly that response.
Zambia defeated Mali 3–1 — 25–19, 22–25, 25–16 and 25–21 — to secure its progression from the group stage.
The technical analysis of the match shows a team capable of making important tactical adjustments. After losing the second set, Zambia restored its serve aggression, reintroduced the middle attack and stabilised its reception organisation before dominating the third set and closing the match in four sets.
This is where Simulezi's work becomes particularly significant.
His team did not simply win a volleyball match.
It demonstrated the ability to recover, adapt and compete at continental level.
THE POLICE OFFICER WHO LEADS FROM THE BENCH
Behind the national team coach is a police officer who understands discipline, organisation, responsibility and leadership.
Simulezi has demonstrated that the values required in professional service can also translate into sport.
His achievement represents an important message for young officers across the Zambia Police Service:
service to country can take many forms.
A police officer can protect the nation in uniform, develop young people through sport and, at the same time, lead a national team representing Zambia before the African continent.
In Nairobi, Sergeant Simulezi is doing all three in his own way.
He is serving.
He is leading.
And he is representing Zambia.
CONSTABLE ANNIE KALABA: A LEADER ON THE COURT
Alongside Simulezi is Constable Annie Kalaba, one of the players who has been central to Zambia's historic journey.
Kalaba was part of the team that conquered Zone VI and earned the ticket to Nairobi.
As captain during the Harare campaign, she played an important leadership role in helping Zambia recover from its earlier defeat to Zimbabwe before producing a commanding performance in the final.
Now, at the African championship, she is part of the team that has taken the next historic step.
Her journey represents another powerful connection between the Zambia Police Service and national sporting excellence.
She is not simply wearing the national colours.
She is wearing them as a police officer, athlete and leader.
And now she stands among the players who have carried Zambia into the knockout phase of the African Nations Championship.
CONSTABLE CHESEKELA GIFT: ZAMBIA POLICE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF OFFICIATING
The story is completed by Constable Chesekela Gift, whose contribution comes from a different side of the court.
As an international volleyball referee, Chesekela has progressed from domestic and regional officiating to the continental stage.
His appointment by the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) to officiate at the Women's African Nations Championship represents a major milestone for Zambian volleyball officiating.
He is therefore part of this historic campaign not as a player, but as one of the officials entrusted with maintaining the highest standards of the game.
For the Zambia Police Service, his presence alongside Simulezi and Kalaba makes the Nairobi story even more remarkable.
Three police officers.
Three different roles.
One national mission.
A NEW BENCHMARK FOR CAVB ZONE 6
The significance extends beyond Zambia.
CAVB Zone 6 represents the heart of Southern African volleyball, and Zambia's progress in Nairobi provides a powerful statement about the growth and potential of the region.
The Zambian team came to the championship as Zone 6 representatives after winning the regional qualification tournament.
It has now gone beyond participation and progressed to the Round of 16, marking a historic breakthrough for the Zone 6 volleyball family.
The achievement demonstrates what can happen when regional competitions are used not merely as tournaments, but as platforms for developing players, coaches, officials and leaders capable of competing at continental level.
Zambia has carried the Zone 6 flag to Nairobi — and the flag is still flying.
THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA HAS A TEAM TO BELIEVE IN
For the Republic of Zambia, this campaign is a source of national pride.
For the Zambia Police Service, it is a demonstration of what its officers can achieve beyond their traditional professional responsibilities.
For ZAVA, it is evidence of the value of sustained investment in coaching, player development, officiating and national-team structures.
And for Southern African volleyball, it is a reminder that the region can produce teams capable of challenging the established powers of African volleyball.
The technical analysis of Zambia's victory over Mali described the team's central challenge as moving from a serve-dependent game toward a more structured offence that remains effective even when the serve is not dominating. It identified improved first contact, greater use of the middle and the development of additional scoring options as important areas for the team's continued growth.
That is the next chapter.
But the first chapter has already been written.
NAIROBI: HISTORY IS STILL BEING WRITTEN
From Harare to Nairobi.
From Zone VI champions to African championship contenders.
From a 3–0 opening defeat to a courageous 3–1 response.
From regional representation to the Round of 16.
And from the Zambia Police Service to the African volleyball stage.
Sergeant Arnold Simulezi, Constable Annie Kalaba and Constable Chesekela Gift have become part of a story that will be remembered well beyond this championship.
Simulezi leads from the bench.
Kalaba leads on the court.
Chesekela represents Zambia on the referee stand.
Three police officers.
Three different responsibilities.
One flag.
THE ZAMBIA FLAG. 🇿🇲
And behind them stands an entire volleyball family — Zambia, the Zambia Volleyball Association, the Zambia Police Service and CAVB Zone 6.
The journey continues into the Round of 16, where Zambia now faces another major continental challenge.
Whatever happens next, the achievement already belongs to history.
Huge congratulations 🎉 👏🏼👏🏼🇿🇲👌
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