Caribbean countries moving towards development

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, March 3, 2014 – The Caribbean countries should take full advantage of the development opportunities offered by FIVB through the VCP initiative and the scholarship program implemented by NORCECA Confederation to increase the participation in courses and seminars.

Mushtaque Mohamed, President of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association and member of the FIVB Board of Administration, expressed his ideas during the biennial general assembly of the regional organization held in Santo Domingo on Sunday.

The meeting was chaired by FIVB First Executive Vice President and NORCECA President Cristobal Marte Hoffiz while Dr. Jose Joaquin Puello, President Ad Vitam of the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee participated as special guest in the morning session.

“We have taken very important steps towards developing volleyball and beach volleyball in our CAZOVA region but we have a long way to go,” Mohamed said. “The good thing is that FIVB and NORCECA both are putting in our hands the necessary tools to reach our goals.”

Mohamed also made reference to the meeting the presidents of the national federations grouped in CAZOVA had with FIVB President Dr. Ary  Graça last November on the occasion of the NORCECA Congress in Tijuana, Mexico, when everyone had the opportunity to express their needs in terms of development and to explain the particular situation in their countries.

“The door is open for all of us,” he said. “We must grab the opportunities and continue with renovated efforts with the assistance from FIVB and NORCECA.”

Mohamed cited the increase of the number of international referees from CAZOVA which elevated from three in 2003 to 11 in 2013 as an example of development through the different programs.

He also mentioned the coaching instructor program and the distribution of Sport Court playing surfaces established by NORCECA as well as the annual distribution of sport equipment and the assistance to regional champions to participate at a continental level.

“This can be the year when one team from CAZOVA makes it to the FIVB World Championship in Poland or Italy,” he expressed. “That would be like a dream coming true independent of which that country is.”

He also mentioned the qualification of Jamaica (boys) and Trinidad and Tobago (girls) to the Beach Volleyball Tournament of the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing as an important step and another example of development opportunities.

“For the first time ever our players will participate at an Olympic level and we must thank NORCECA for creating the conditions which permitted our athletes to reach that stage,” he said.