AFECAVOL, Proof of success of NORCECA Development Plan

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, February 12, 2017.- After two days of sessions during the General Assembly of the Association of Central American Volleyball Federations AFECAVOL, the results reported by its members to the FIVB First Executive Vice President and NORCECA President Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, showed the success of the development plan accomplished by the Central American region in 2016.

Marta Centeno de Sajché, AFECAVOL President, presented the 2016 AFECAVOL report, congratulating the efforts by their members “our zone is seeking for better results and we want to be winners; with your active intervention during this Assembly, we will be able to take the necessary measures in transforming our ideas into results. Volleyball is a product that we must exploit with new strategies as a new Olympic phase begins, we can be well prepared to embark into the future”.

With financial aid, technical support, volleyball equipment supplies, courses and Sport Court surfaces, Central America has accomplished to be visible among the National Federations that conform the NORCECA Confederation, obtaining historic results that translate in nothing else but development.

Costa Rica was the center of attention in women’s beach volleyball while qualifying for the first time in history to the Olympic Games, winning the NORCECA Continental Cup. Guatemala as well, in volleyball, beat the Central American and Caribbean Champions of Dominican Republic, in the first stage of the Men’s 2018 FIVB World Championship Qualification Tournament.

Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, also spoke during the Assembly indicating “development is a simple word, it’s easy to understand and to write, but it’s not easy to reach. This has been a long process, it takes time to complete in its maximum expression and without creating false expectations, AFECAVOL has demonstrated a solid structure, Norceca investment has given good results and now, for the next few years we need to continue working even more, as we will be facing bigger challenges”.

The reports of the 2016 Central American tournaments were discussed, in which the AFECAVOL celebrated the third edition of the U-23 championships in both genders, as pioneers in this age-group competitions.

An important point in the agenda was the approval that the volleyball tournament of the Central American Games will now ranked every four years in order to provide the necessary space for the   FIVB World Championships qualification process.

The NORCECA Tour will continue to be the event that grants ranking points to qualify for events of the Olympic Cycle and FIVB World Championships. The success of the NORCECA Tour has allowed our athletes to have more international exposure, hence that the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla will have a total of 24 teams per gender.

Central America will be organizing U-18 and U-20 women regional events, U-19 and U-21 men events and the annual U-21 and Senior Beach Volleyball Championships. Double day competitions were approved in volleyball tournaments, which results will be reviewed in the next Assembly. 

The 2017 the competition calendar is as follows:

July 5-10  XVII Senior Beach Volleyball Championship, GUATEMALA

July 18-23 XVII Women’s U-20 Championship, BELIZE

August (TBD) X U-21 Beach Volleyball Championship, COSTA RICA 

August 22-27 XII Girls’ U-18 Championship, HONDURAS

September 5-10 XVII Men’s U-21 Championship, NICARAGUA

October 17-22 XII Boy’s U-19 Championship, PANAMA

December 3-17 XI Central American Games, MANAGUA

AFECAVOL will give a huge step in 2018 as they will celebrate the first edition of the U-17 and U-19 Central American Beach Volleyball Championships. Costa Rica and Nicaragua confirmed to host the respective events.

Volleyball is transforming worldwide by modifying different programs, reason why the NORCECA Confederation will be adjusting its plans to face new challenges and aspiring to transcend in the international arena. Marte Hoffiz indicated that he will continue to battle for Central America, ECVA and CAZOVA in his position as President, “I won’t disappoint you; with responsibility and loyalty I will reattribute your trust. I will continue to work with passion and heart, I am sure we will move forward”. 

The two day Assembly was productive, the efforts of the regional Federations reflect in their reports and the financial statements, but Cristobal Marte made it clear that there is a lot of hard word that can’t be measured.

Marta Centeno de Sajché announced a leave of absence of one year; motion approved by Cristobal Marte Hoffiz and as President of NORCECA and all members present in the Assembly, Costa Rica President and NORCECA HONORARY Vice President, Mr. Edgar Alvarado was designated acting President.

In her closing words, Centeno de Sajché said “I exhort you to be more efficient; our only option is to work every day a little more. Nothing takes as long as it takes to never begin”.