Junior v-ballers ready for Martinique battle

The stage is set for Martinique to host this year’s Caribbean Junior Volleyball Championships from July 20 to 27.

This news was related by Mustaque Mohammed, president of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA), who went on an inspection tour recently to the French-speaking island. There he established contacts with organising committee, Leigue de Martinique de Volleyball which is headed by Ronald Regna. Mohammed, who is also president of the Trinidad and Tobago Volleyball Federation (TTVF), said: “The Martinique officials are all excited over this championships. They have built a new stadium named Hall de Sport Trenelle with a capacity for over 1,500-seated fans. They also have another stadium— the Louis Joseph dogue Sports Hall, which is smaller, but can hold over 900 people. “These facilities are in Docus Town which is about a half-hour drive from the airport,” Mohammed said.

He also disclosed that the Martinique Government officials and their Olympic Association are fully supporting the championships. They want it to be the biggest ever-Caribbean junior championships. And I have every reason to believe that we will witness one of the biggest regional junior championships.” he said. “Already eleven teams have indicated their willingness to participate in this year’s competition. But we will be only able to accommodate ten. That means we will hold an elimination qualifying competition with the teams which did not participate in the 2002 championships held in Suriname,” he said.

TT are the defending Caribbean junior female champions while the TT male team placed fourth in Suriname. Apart from TT and Suriname; Netherland Antilles, who won the boys title; Martinique and Bahamas are the other nations who will automatically qualify for this year’s championships. “All five teams which participated in Suriname will be given first preference to compete in Martinique but they must fulfil their financial obligation by May 15, the deadline for financial registration. Once that process is completed, we will then decide the new step towards getting the other five teams to make up the full complement of ten countries in each category,” Mohammed said.

According to the hard-working Mohammed, Martinique hosted the Caribbean Senior Volleyball Championships in 1998. He disclosed that it was a huge financial success for them. This one should also be successful,” he said. Pressed further to comment on Martinique’s readiness and preparations, the CAZOVA president revealed that France Volleyball Federation are assisting the Martinique’s Organising Committee with technical support as well as training and coaching of their national teams. “They want to do well and the French Federation are helping them to be ready by hosting a triangular series involving Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana during May,” he said. Aruba, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, St Lucia and US Virgin Islands are the other countries, who have expressed their intentions of being part of the 2003 Caribbean Junior Volleyball Championships.