Volleyball Empowerment Ignites Volleyball Development In Suriname

Lausanne, Switzerland, July 28, 2023.- Suriname registers early success with junior teams through the revolutionary program of Volleyball Empowerment.

Ranked 73rd on the latest FIVB Senior Men’s World Rankings, Suriname has begun to make strides in the world of volleyball with the support of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program, which aims to help national teams reach their full potential.

According to Surinamese Volleyball Bond (SUVOBO) President Blokland Lionel, the future of volleyball is bright in the country, thanks to the impact of Volleyball Empowerment Program and Cuban coach Carlos Orta.

Since 2021, the FIVB has invested a total of CHF 45,000 in Suriname through a coach support project. The project began with Brazilian coach Augusto Sabbatini who led the senior men’s national team for three months from May to August 2021.

 “It was great having Sabbatini around once again because he was here before around 10 years ago. He helped us develop a high-level training structure for the national team by introducing a proper strength and conditioning program. He gave us the much-needed knowledge to take our volleyball to the next level, both in indoor and beach volleyball,” recalled Lionel.

If Sabbatini laid the foundation, Orta has been the driving force in developing volleyball even further in the country since he landed in Paramaribo on 21 June 2022. The one-year project has seen Orta implement transformative changes in developing a pipeline of talent from the junior national teams to the senior team. Lionel believes it is only a matter of time before Suriname can compete against the very best national teams within the North, Central America, and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA).  

“It’s also the second time that Orta was around having worked with the U23 team back in 2020, so it is a familiar scene for him. He has built on what Sabbatini introduced, especially with the strength and conditioning. He has also introduced a different perspective and insights about high level volleyball which he is teaching across all levels of our national teams,” said Lionel.

The impact of these efforts has been both immediate and remarkable. Suriname won the U19 Caribbean Cup in July last year to qualify for the NORCECA U19 competition held in March this year, while their U21 team settled for silver in the Caribbean Cup also held in July 2022.

“The U19 team finished eighth in the NORCECA U19 Cup held in March this year, but it was their first time ever to play at this level. It shows there is growth, and the experience is slowly coming in. We have two players from the U19 team and one from the U21 team who have already started training with the senior team,” revealed Lionel.

Suriname’s senior team finished seventh in the Central American and Caribbean Games played between 24 June and 4 July in El Salvador. Although they failed to qualify for the Pan American Games scheduled for October, Lionel is elated that five junior players made their senior team debut in this competition. Only the top three teams qualified for the Pan American Games.

“It’s good to compete in major competitions and we need to maximize as much as possible the chance to get it done. We are moving in the right direction, and I believe the more our young players play at this level then they stand a chance of turning professional.

“Volleyball in Suriname does not pay well so our players have to do other jobs to sustain themselves then train in the evening. We are training like five times a week which is not good enough. If our players turn professional, we will have a better chance to excel with the national team as they can concentrate more on the sport,” reckoned Lionel.

With Orta having set the ball rolling, Lionel notes that local coaches also have a big role in ensuring the sustainability of the program.

“Orta has organized sessions for our local coaches to learn about planning of training sessions and strength and conditioning. We want them to get involved in the program so that we can reach more athletes. They have a role to play in assisting Orta to scout for young players in schools and local leagues,” said Lionel.