|
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, April 11, 2015 – Trinidad & Tobago men
and women’s beach volleyball teams will begin their historic
quest to be the first national teams to qualify for the Olympic
Games when they compete in their respective first round of the
Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) 2016 Rio
Olympics Beach Volleyball Qualifiers.
The T&T Volleyball Federation will play host to the 28-team (two
pairs of two per country) men’s qualifiers at the National
Development Centre, Saith Park, Chaguanas from May 8-10 at the
end of which the top four teams will advance to the second round
of qualifiers which will involve the top four teams from the
Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association first round qualifiers
as well.
The round one of the women’s qualifying takes place first in
Ocho Rios Bay Beach, Jamaica, April 30 to May 5 with the
28-teams (two pairs of two per country) competing for four spots
in the next round of qualifiers.
This was stated by Mushtaque Mohammed, president of CAZOVA at
the official launch of the T&T Volleyball Federation’s hosting
of the first round of men’s qualifiers at the T&T Olympic
Committee Office, Abercombry Street, on Thursday.
Mushtaque Mohammed, president of CAZOVA and the appointed
Tournament Director for the tournament at Saith Park, said that
being a national of T&T he was glad to state that FIVB, NORCECA
and the regional body was happy to provide all the necessary
support of the T&TVF to put on a tremendous tournament.
Mohammed noted T & T has managed to qualified beach volleyball
teams to the Central American and Caribbean Games in the past,
the upcoming Pan American Games in Canada and also at the World
Championship youth level for, and the lone missing tournament
and most prestigious was the Olympic Games.
He added, “I believe the beach volleyballers can be the first
team sport to qualify for the Olympic Games from T&T, however,
it’s not going to be easy, because the road gets much more
difficult as you progress to the other rounds
“So as a national of T&T, you will have my support and that of
the international body, but no favours will be guaranteed,”
Mohammed stressed.
Daymian Stewart, president T&TVF explained the reason for
hosting the event was to create a greater awareness of the
fastest growing sport in the world, in addition to giving the
local teams a good boost and in keeping with the Government’s
objectives to develop sport tourism, promote our unique culture,
empower our human resources and support the positive talents of
the youth.
With regards to qualification for the fourth and final stage of
the qualifiers which will involve the top teams in the entire
NORCEA Confederation, Daymian Stewart, president of T&TVF, said
the local teams possess six of the seven key elements to get the
job done.
However, Stewart noted what was now needed was the support for
the athletes which needed to be address urgently.
In another T&TOC President, Brian Lewis applauded the T&TV for
the direction it has taken in developing the sport and its
effort to generate revenue.
Lewis added, “We need to be creative and market sport in T&T in
different ways, and the T&TVF has to be commended for their
efforts because qualifying for an Olympic Games is absolutely
important if you are serious about elite sport, whether you are
a top athlete, manager or official.”
With respect to the hosting of the event, Lewis urged the local
federation to do all in its power to make home advantage be of
benefit to the T&T team.
“When you are hosting it’s a very serious thing and it is done
to make a difference to your team and this is something we need
to change else it makes no sense if we are not 150 per cent
about it”
In this regard, Lewis urged volleyball followers and locals to
come out in full support for the team, and not just fair weather
supporters who desert you when things are not going good. |
