‘Volleyball is Far Bigger than You Can Imagine’ – Prabashnee Naidoo Urges Corporate SA
Drawing on her over three decades of dedication to promoting volleyball and its players in South Africa, Prabashnee Naidoo observes that while it continues to struggle with attracting sponsors and investment, she draws confidence that the sport has grown in popularity across all ages and formats.
“Lack of visibility is the biggest challenge and the main contributor to the lack of obtaining big sponsorships and investments. Improved governance can provide much-needed structure to support development opportunities and visibility. Volleyball does not receive media coverage; therefore, it does not receive the recognition it deserves.
Naidoo also highlighted that limited funding hinders the development of young players’ skills. “There is no investment in developing the youth’s skills or encouraging schools to introduce volleyball as part of their curriculum.”
“Lack of funding results in minimal development of facilities, youth development, and for international volleyball competitions. With that being said, volleyball player achievements and opportunities are limited to only the volleyball associations they are affiliated with.”
She currently plays for Liberete VC in the local league, Millennial Masters VC, the KZN Masters team, as well as Linkfields T12, which is made up of international and Johannesburg-based masters.
Naidoo says various volleyball teams are doing their bit to help promote and grow the game for all age groups.
“Aqua Darshan Volleyball and Craft Intelligence are currently the biggest promoters and sponsors of volleyball. Aqua Darshan is involved in indoor, outdoor, and beach volleyball,” says Naidoo. “Aqua Tournaments and SAMVA (South African Masters Volleyball Association) Tournaments are held almost monthly between Gauteng and KZN.”
“They offer sponsorships of cash prizes, trophies, recognition of high achievers, and promoting volleyball at youth and master’s level. These tournaments attract teams from all over South Africa, boasting both young and upcoming talent and master volleyball players.”
The volleyball veteran is urging corporates in South Africa to see the value of the sport in the country and how their financial backing can take it to new and improved heights.
“Volleyball is far bigger than you can imagine. Volleyball has a vast reach, since the game is played indoors, outdoors, and on the beach. Volleyball is a powerhouse sport, waiting to be tapped into.”
South African Volleyball Stalwart, Prabashnee Naidoo
“Volleyball is not subject to age; it promotes sports beyond age, as Volleyball has a strong set of values that it aligns with. Values that mirror those of corporate South Africa. Investing in volleyball will grow the sport holistically, from the grassroots level to master’s level, and will contribute to the introduction and growth of volleyball across sectors, from government to private schools.”
“A prime example of a corporate sponsor would be Telkom, which recently partnered with the Volleyball Pro Beach tour in Cape Town,” she continues.
Naidoo is hopeful that one day, volleyball will be on our television screens, garnering major sponsorships and having world-class facilities as the sport looks to become among the more recognisable sports in South Africa.
“My biggest dream is for volleyball to receive television coverage and corporate/brand sponsorships.”
“I would love for volleyball to be included in the list of sporting codes reported on the radio and social media sporting platforms. Through this, I believe we will achieve even more, as it will talk to building new facilities for volleyball to thrive, bringing with that alone economic growth and job opportunities.
“These facilities will provide safe and adequate means for training and development and venues for competitions,” argues Naidoo.
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“School is where my volleyball journey began, and I would love for volleyball to be introduced back into government schools and private schools. It would be truly incredible for volleyball to be recognised in the same category as rugby, netball, and cricket, competing internationally, including Masters and Olympic teams.”
She is urging young volleyball players to use their profiles to bring a spotlight to the sport. She acknowledges this might be a tough thing to do, but it will garner great reward on a personal and professional level.
“It’s normal to be afraid and nervous about being in the spotlight. A little secret, though, is that the things that you are most afraid of can lead to the most magical things.”
“Volleyball is a team sport; it will allow you to grow within your team. You might even surprise yourself, as you grow and gain confidence. You might find yourself walking taller, holding your head up higher, and you will start to soar, and you will beam with delight.
“It’s your inner light that’s the real spotlight! So don’t be afraid for too long. Own your superpower, as you learn more about yourself and your potential to be amazing. Always remember to help others who might be experiencing the same fears. Sharing your experience will encourage and build confidence in those who need it, like you did.”
Her advice to those who want to take volleyball seriously is to join a team that will provide the building blocks for a playing career in volleyball.
“The first step would be to find a local volleyball club or team to join. This will provide you with structured training, the opportunity to interact, watch, and learn from others. Setting personal goals to improve your skills and attending planned training sessions will motivate you to stay committed. Being part of a team and making friends is the perfect support structure; as you help one another to grow, you will look forward to training, playing games, and increasing your commitment.”
Naidoo is of the opinion that a partnership between gsport and a sporting federation like Volleyball South Africa can certainly help grow women’s sport as a whole.
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“Partnerships between gsport4girls, VSA, and other formidable volleyball associations will shine the spotlight on volleyball. This will significantly contribute to the growth of women in volleyball. Enhanced visibility through media coverage on the gsport4girls platform talks directly to #IRecogniseHer, says Naidoo.
“Increased visibility will encourage more people to take up the sport. It promotes enhanced coaching techniques and training, grows the level of play, whilst attracting lucrative corporate sponsors and investment.”
“The partnership will further inspire and promote change for gender equality. Women will feel more empowered and supported,” she says. “This will lead to women breaking barriers, rewriting history, and inspiring future generations.”
Naidoo had the opportunity to attend the 2025 gsport Awards and walked the red carpet. She shared that her experience was rather exhilarating.
“A moment filled with flashbacks of receiving the gsport Awards invitation. Feelings of honour and privilege fuelled me as I strutted down the red carpet of the most prestigious sports awards of the year. The realisation that I was sharing with the Trailblazing Stars of the gsport4girls Sisterhood was mind-blowing. I experienced a magical moment with the cameraman, as he captured me strutting down the runway, and for a moment, I almost felt like a super-heroine in my own fairytale.
Something that the gsport Awards is known for is networking, and Naidoo said she had some incredible opportunities to meet and connect with the amazing women of sport at the prestigious event.
“The networking opportunities were incredible. Every single encounter and conversation felt so personal and was incredible to say the least. Everyone was so easy to approach, immaterial of their stature.”
“They listened attentively as I shared my passion for volleyball and my dreams. They openly shared their experiences and valuable advice. We exchanged contact information and even connected immediately on Instagram.”
She says since her attendance at the awards, she has seen volleyball gaining more visibility in mainstream media and feels her presence at the gsport Awards helped raise the sport’s profile.
“My presence at the gsport Awards provided me with the opportunity to create personal connections through my interactions. People were able to put a face to the content I created, but more than that, they were able to connect to me through my shared passion for volleyball. A prime example would be Mpumi Manyisi connecting with me through my volleyball content; it was pure magic.
Through meaningful communication and action, volleyball made its debut on SABC Sport on SABC 1 on 24 October 2025. I reached out to several other connections I had made to join me in sharing the SABC broadcast, and the response was unbelievable. It resulted in collaborations, increased shares, which contributed to a significant increase in volleyball’s visibility across new platforms. A true testament to the power of networking and community.
The volleyball player also shared how one of the standout moments of attending the awards was getting to meet gsport founder Kass Naidoo, who is a role model and idol of many women in South Africa.
“Kass greeting me by my name made me feel worthy of being at an event. Kass has been an idol of mine from the first time she appeared on television, in her short hair, as a cricket presenter.”
“Kass stayed in the shadows of the Awards, almost as if to give more light to those who needed to shine brighter. Somehow the light found her, as the winners, the women who were recognised for their contributions and achievements, paid homage to Kass, the heart behind the idea of recognising women in sport and giving a home to women in sport.”
Naidoo encouraged women in sport to follow gsport and get involved in the community because she has seen the value of it firsthand.
“Connecting to gsport4girls is life-changing. The main value of being part of gsport4girls is the opportunity to be part of a supportive network/platform that recognises, celebrates, and empowers women. It provides one with the courage and opportunity to reach out for support within the network, as and when it is needed.”
“gsport4girls gives women in sport a home to belong to,” says Naidoo. “By being recognised and celebrated by other women on the platform, she recognises her own strength, she celebrates herself, she dreams bigger, she soars, she wins, she inspires, she supports, more women win!”
Main Photo Caption: Drawing on her over three decades of dedication to promoting volleyball and its players in South Africa, Prabashnee Naidoo observes that while it continues to struggle with attracting sponsors and investment, she draws confidence that the sport has grown in popularity across all ages and formats. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: “Volleyball is far bigger than you can imagine,” says Naidoo. “Volleyball has a vast reach, the game is played indoors, outdoors, and on the beach.”
Photo 3 Caption: “School is where my volleyball journey began, and I would love for volleyball to be introduced back into government schools and private schools.”
Photo 4 Caption: Naidoo says that her ultimate goal is for visibility and growth: “My biggest dream is for volleyball to receive television coverage and corporate/brand sponsorships.”
Photo 5 Caption: “Connecting to gsport4girls is life-changing,” says Naidoo. “The main value of being part of gsport4girls is the opportunity to be part of a supportive network that recognises, celebrates, and empowers women.
Crédito: Link de origem