Emmanuel Dhenhere, third from right, with other members of the Guernsey men’s volleyball team. (Picture by Andrew Le Poidevin, 0792007)

FOR one Guernsey volleyballer, Aland is long way from where he started playing the game.

Accountant Emmanuel Dhenhere, 31, moved to the island from Zimbabwe close to two years ago.

He began playing volleyball when he was a 13-year-old in junior school in the capital Harare.

He went on to play for Koba in the Zimbabwean National League.

Next week he will be turning out in the Green of Guernsey in his first Island Games.

‘I’m looking forward to it quite a lot,’ he said.

‘I hope I’ll get my old form back and play as good as I used to.’

Dhenhere has clearly fitted in well to the Guernsey men’s team.

‘They are like a family,’ he said.

‘That is probably because they have been playing together for such a long time.

‘They know each other so well.’

When he came to the Bailiwick from Zimbabwe, he left behind him a country in turmoil, it’s economy in tatters.

Poverty and unemployment are endemic and political strife and repression commonplace.

Dhenhere said he would look to go back in two years’ time if the situation improved.

Volleyball and sport in the country has naturally been badly affected.

‘People are moving out at any opportunity,’ he said.