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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 19, 2016 – In face of the mounting
pressure on the eve of the start of the Women’s World Olympic
Qualification Volleyball Tournament the coach and captain of
hosts Puerto Rico sounded like a team on a mission as they
commented about their expectations for the four-team competition
that offers one ticket to the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
Juan Carlos Nunez and Yarimar Rosa, the coach and captain,
respectively, of hosts Puerto Rico looked the most determined
during the press conference held on Thursday evening at the
Hyatt Place hotel in San Juan.
“This is a big chance for our team getting the chance of
qualifying and the girls have worked hard to achieve the feat,”
Nunez said. “They seem focused and very solid during the
training sessions and I am not expecting anxiety will be a
factor.”
Rosa added: “Our expectations are very clear. If we do our job
in the court we will come out through the wide door.”
Eduardo Guillaume, the Argentinean coach of Colombia said that
despite a late start of the full-squad training due to players’
commitments with foreign clubs he is confident about his team’s
chances.
“We are elated to be here with all the intentions of earning the
berth to Rio and we will do all necessary efforts to finish
first,” Guillaume said. “It was a good preparation, under the
circumstances, but I can see our team is at a good level.”
Colombia’s captain Maria Alejandra Marin had a similar
evaluation about the Olympic chances of her team while saying
“this is a great opportunity for us and we are going to take
advantage of it. Our style of playing has changed since the
inclusion of Argentinean coaches.”
David Lungaho, who has been coaching Kenya’s women national team
since 2005, is content with the way his side has looked in
training for the past two weeks.
“We have been very busy taking part in many competitions and we
believe in the strengths of the team,” Lungaho stated.
The captain Mercy Moim added: “We are happy for this second
chance and will give our best to get the qualification to the
Olympic Games.”
Algeria’s coach Belacel Mohamed Amine mostly commented about the
future of his team and the young age of the payers under his
guidance.
“Our team is very young and we need to play at our very best to
qualify to the Olympics,” Belacel admitted. “We have that in
mind and being part of this tournament will benefit us for
future tournaments. We are conscious about the level of Puerto
Rico and have prepared to play them.”
Belacel praised the qualification system implemented by FIVB
which offers Olympic opportunities to those teams not included
in the top of the rankings. “It is the first time this system is
operating and we like it as it means better opportunities for
the smaller countries.”
Algerian captain Safia Boukhima said: “This is another chance of
reaching the Olympics. The level is totally different to the
African and I am really grateful for the opportunity to be
here.” |
