Team coaches psyched up for ECVA showdown

BEAUSEJOUR, St Lucia, September 6, 2012 - Four of the coaches involved in the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Men's Volleyball Finals have expressed optimism going into the next four days of competition.

Head coaches of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and host St Lucia, are all in a positive and anticipatory mood.

Brian Burke, who is the Head Coach of St Vincent and the Grenadines side thinks his team is better prepared than when they last appeared in the world championships qualifiers which were held here in April.

" This time around, we have a stronger, more experienced and more mature team and we expect to even do better than the last time we were here ... for most of the guys, it was their first major tournament ", Burke said.

Meanwhile Antigua and Barbuda's Head Coach Fitzroy Benjamin is looking forward to the challenge and display a good brand of Volleyball. He believes that having come out of the World Championships qualifiers last week in French St Martin will serve his team in good stead.

"I like the scheduling .... as we can look back and see where we need to iron out .That tournament made us match fit as the last time we played any competitive match was in last year in St Thomas on the Labour Day weekend", Benjamin stated.

Head Coach of Dominica, Jeffery Edmond said that despite lack of match practice, his team has done sufficient training to give a good account in the regional final.

“I expect us to do well, in fact very well”, Edmond said with assurance.

Host St Lucia's coach Kendall Charlery is confident that his charges will retain the title, they won in 2010.

"We have a good young bright squad and we are ready to accept any challenge", an assertive Charlery said. "We have practically the same team from the last tournament, but we have increased our training, but we have to be watchful for Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda."

St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines are pooled in Group A, with Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and French St Martin making up Group B.

The opening fixture pits Dominica against Antigua and Barbuda, and then St Vincent and the Grenadines engage host St Lucia in the night capper.