ECVA Youth In Search of a Youth Olympic Berth

St. Johns, Antigua -June 15 2018 – 6 male teams and 5 female teams descended on the capital city in Antigua to commence their quest for an opportunity to play in the Olympic Youth Tournament to be held Argentina.

Teams from St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, St. Kitts/Nevis (male only) and host country Antigua/Barbuda are all brimming with confidence that at least one of their teams will earn that trip to the continental island.

Coach of the St. Lucia teams Mr. Terry Verdant said that despite relatively new players he is expecting them to do well.

“I am expecting them to play well, I am sure that they will be able to play to the best of their ability. I want at the end of the day that even if they lose it will be a performance that they could feel good about. Notwithstanding all that we are hoping that we will be the ones on the plane to Argentina”, he said.

Brazilian born Coach Café who has been with the St Kitts/Nevis team for the past 6 years admitted that it was a new era for St. Kitts/Nevis who have only recently started exposing the young players to Beach Volleyball. “If these guys play with confidence and not be overcome with nervousness since it is their first tournament I expect them to grow from match to match and with the talent that they have they can reach the finals. Once that happens I think I will have a surprise in store for them”, he beamed.

Nikita Campbell of team St. Vincent and the Grenadines spoke definitively and confidently of their team chances.

“The last time our boys won this competition and I am confident that this time around this set can repeat that feat. This is not a boast but I am confident that both our boys and girls would do very well “, she intimated.

Ray Robinson the beach Volleyball Coordinator in Dominica who doubles as coach, had greater hopes in his females than males.

“For the females I think that I have a really good team, they are technically sound and well-rounded players. Once they play to the best of their ability I am sure we have a really good chance to qualify. We will not underestimate anyone but in each game give it our best shot. The male’s youth for Dominica got an automatic berth in the Olympic hence they were using this competition to sharpen their skills”, He disclosed.

On the contrary Coach Reifer Brathwaite of Grenada placed greater emphasis on his males rather than females.

“We came here to win and I think that we have a very good male team that will do just that. Unfortunately we had to replace one of our better female players so in my mind the males have a greater chance than the females. We have had a very good preparation period hence we have no excuses. They have gathered experience from other floor competitions that they have been involved in and are now anxious to exhibit what they learnt on the sand.

The team ben drawn into two Groups…A comprising of Antigua/Barbuda, Grenada and St. Kitts/Nevis and B – Dominica St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

In the females Group A has Antigua Grenada and St, Vincent and the Grenadines while Dominica and St. Lucia will contest Group B.

The winner in each category goes to the Olympic youth Volleyball Finals.