WILLEMSTAD, Curacao
Leading the quartet is recently crowned Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) champions, Bahamas, currently ranked eighth in NORCECA, fourth placed CAZOVA tournament finishers, Jamaica (NORCECA 17th ranked), 19th ranked host Curacao and non-ranked Martinique which reached the quarterfinals of the CAZOVA event held in St Croix, US Virgin Islands in July.
Over the two days of competition, the four teams will first contest a round-robin series which will conclude on the morning session of day two (Sunday) before the top two teams compete for the gold medal, having secured the second round passage already.
The third and fourth place teams will vie for the third and final qualification spot to the second round of the World qualifiers next year.
Speaking on the eve of the tournament, Eric Ogenia, president of the Curacao Volleyball Federation it was very important that his federation puts on a good tournament which will go a long way in helping to continue their development in the sport.
Ogenia said, “As a team we were preparing a youth squad since 2010 for the 2012 CAZOVA Championships but in the end we did not get to the finals earlier this year in St Croix due to some financial constraints”.
“So for us this tournament will give us a chance to see where we are at on the international level with regards to our rivals in this region, and also allow the guys to show what they have been doing on the practice courts over the years”.
He noted, “The guys were very motivated prior to their non-participation at CAZOVA and when that fell through we were all disappointed but with World qualifiers now being held here in Curacao they have rediscovered that belief and want to do well in front of their home crowd”.
Ogenia added, “From the point as president of the Curacao Volleyball Federation, I am hoping that the team does well. I know it is a very tough group, probably the toughest of the entire first round, but I am quietly confident they will do well and finish among the top three teams to advance to the next phase”.
The hosting of the tournament at the International School venue also came in for high praise from Mushtaque Mohammed, president of CAZOVA and Head of the Control Committee for the tournament.
Following an inspection of the venue with other members of the Control Committee on Thursday night and Friday morning, Mohammed said, “We have not identified any major difficulty with the facility so it has fulfilled all the major requirements for a major tournament of this magnitude”.
Mohammed also said he was also expecting a very high level of play from the four participating teams, with newly crowned CAZOVA champions Bahamas, top four finisher Jamaica, former powerhouse Martinique and host Curacao all coming strong.
NORCECA MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIOSNHIP QUALIFIERS:
Group A: Curacao, Bahamas, Jamaica, Martinique
Tournament schedule;
Saturday December 1 (Session One)
Jamaica vs Bahamas, 9am
Curacao vs Martinique, 11am
Saturday December 1 (Session Two):
Jamaica vs Martinique, 6pm
Curacao vs Bahamas, 8pm
Sunday December 2 (Session One):
Bahamas vs Martinique, 9am
Curacao vs Jamaica, 11am
Sunday December 2 (Session Two):
Third place match, 6pm
Final, 8pm
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