CAZOVA backs Marte Hoffiz for another 4-year term

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, March 15, 2015 - Dominican Republic’s Cristobal Marte Hoffiz looks set to serve another term as president of the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) when the organisation’s congress comes up from October 25 to November 1, 2015.

This after Marte Hoffiz unofficially got the full backing of the 14-member Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) headed by its president Mushtaque Mohammed at its own congress held at Cascadia Hotel & Conference Centre, Cascade, St Ann’s following his CAZOVA's presidential report from the NORCECA 2014 report.

The countries represented were host Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Jamaica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Suriname, Haiti, US Virgin Islands, and Turks & Caicos.

Among those to openly endorsed Marte Hoffiz were association presidents Margaret Graham (Haiti) who is also CAZOVA’s general secretary, CAZOVA’s 1^st Vice-President Lucille Hobson (US Virgin Islands), Jamaican Warrenton Dixon (CAZOVA Technical Vice-President), Kennedy Mc Gowan (Cayman Islands), Filomena Daniel Curiel (Curacao), and Daymian Stewart, president of the T&T Volleyball Federation.

Graham first said that she was actually inspired to become involved in the administrative aspect of the sport by Marte Hoffiz.

“Back in 2009 I took a club team to Dominican Republic, and Marte Hoffiz was at the venue and at that time, I did not know who he was.

“He came across to me and very openly said that I have to get involve with the federation and help the sport in Haiti, and today I am president and doing my part.”

Hobson, who admitted to having a love-hate relationship with Marte Hoffiz over sporting matters said that she was happy to give her support as over the years, he has shown to be very committed to the sport, which has surely been on the climb in the region during his tenure.

McGowan stated that in his time he has never worked with anyone in the sport as dedicated as Marte Hoffiz who has no doubt lifted the standard of the sport, not only in his country, but in the entire CAZOVA region.

Dixon, was quick to note that in his lifetime in the sport he doesn’t think that he has not seen anyone more passionate and committed to the sport as Marte Hoffiz.

And there views were echoed by Mohammed who said he was happy on behalf of CAZOVA to share in the vision for the sport by Marte Hoffiz  

“I have been working with him (Marte Hoffiz) since 2001 and then also as part of his executive and as a federation we have grown under Marte Hoffiz, and I have firm belief that by continuing to give full support, CAZOVA will only continue to get better.”

In response, Marte Hoffiz first thanked CAZOVA for pledging its support and vowed that over the next four year term he will continue to do all in his power to improve the level of the sport in all departments, inclusive of administration and technical work as well.

Marte Hoffiz also asked the federations represented to work hard and doing more for the sport in their respective countries as well, which in turn will see him working even harder as well on his end to deliver on promises and requests made by the federations.

He added, “During my time as president CAZOVA has been getting the support from NORCECA and FIVB because of the results we have been getting with all that is being implanted by the body and the respective countries. 

Marte Hoffiz also pointed out that he was very grateful to have the full support of CAZOVA, which was very important to him, because it will not be worthwhile for him to continue if he did not have the full backing.

“I do my work with a lot of passion, pride and commitment, and I cannot see myself continuing without the same energy and support from the people I work for,” ended Marte Hoffiz.

CAZOVA’s support for Marte Hoffiz comes on the heels of the 14-member Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) giving their support for the long serving volleyball official at its congress a week earlier in St Lucia, as well as the Central American Volleyball Federation (AFECAVOL) which pledged its support since February at its general assembly held in Guatemala City, in February.

The NORCECA elections take place on November 1, at the Punta Cana Bavaro Beach Resort Convention Centre in Dominican Republic.