Double Victory Crowns Vibrant Brazzaville Stage
Under a soft sunset on October 5th, the Congolese duo of Nkouka Mazengo and Pierrot Douala lifted the men’s trophy at the CAVB Zone 4 Beach Volley Tour, shaking the newly laid sand of the La Concorde complex in Kintélé before a crowd chanting “Red Devils.”
Minutes earlier, Cameroon’s Sandrine Nzali and Yvonne Dang had defeated their national teammates Irina and Nina in an intense women’s tie-break, preserving the regional supremacy of the Indomitable Lionesses.
Kintélé Courts Highlight Congo’s Sporting Ambition
Opened during the 2015 African Games, the two beach volleyball courts near the Sangha river were refurbished in September, an upgrade that the Congolese Volleyball Federation states illustrates the government’s commitment to diversifying sports tourism and keeping youth engaged beyond football, the national pastime.
Inspector General of Sports Charles Dinga told journalists the renovation cost “less than an international friendly match in Europe” and utilized local companies for sand sifting and seating, embodying what he called a “Made in Congo” approach encouraged by President Denis Sassou Nguesso’s development agenda.
Men’s Crown Fuels Red Devils’ Momentum
Mazengo, a former indoor captain, and Douala, a former lifeguard from Pointe-Noire, displayed chemistry built on countless dawn training sessions at Mbéti beach. Their straight-set victory against Cameroon’s Abba and Adji, 21-13, 21-16, never seemed in doubt once their serving pressure was established.
“We heard the drums behind every serve,” said Douala, sweat still flowing. Mazengo credited coaches from the national gendarmerie’s DGSP club for “mentally preparing us to finish matches quicker,” a message that resonated with young cadets watching from the stands.
Cameroonian Women Confirm Lasting Depth
The all-Cameroonian final reflected a decade of structured women’s programs in Yaoundé, supported by the national Olympic committee. Nzali, just 21, said the 16-21, 21-8, 18-16 comeback proved that “our bench pushes the starters harder than any opponent can.”
CAVB technical delegate Pierre Ngassa noted that Cameroon now leads the zone rankings with three medals—one gold and two silver—while Congo follows with one gold and one bronze, ahead of the Central African Republic, whose Yangueme and Sokpomo earned an encouraging third place.
Logistics and Leadership Behind the Tournament
The two-day meeting condensed 28 matches into a tight schedule aided by electronic scoreboards donated by a Brazzaville fintech startup. Colonel Christelle Colombe Bouaka Milandou, the event’s head, stated the impeccable timing proved “discipline and sport can walk together.”
Volunteers from the nearby Denis Sassou Nguesso University spent their afternoons raking the sand, while ball retrievers received backpacks and health kits. Referees, trained under a CAVB-FIVB partnership, tested a