GVBA concluded Referees and Coaches Course on Beach Volleyball

Gambia volleyball Association concluded a 3 day local and Coaches Course on beach volleyball at Serre Kunda East Semega Janneh hall from August 8th to August 10 in the framework of developing the unpopular game in the Gambia. The course attracted a record number of participants as 20 referees and coaches from all volleyball clubs attended the program which covered topics stretching from practical coaching skills to technical and tactical development training techniques.
International certified referee Bai Doudou Jallow instructed the course and was pleased with the performance of all participants and encouraged them to use the outcome of the course in the practical life in their respective clubs. The Secretary General of the Association Alfousainey Jarju highlighted on the importance of the program and described it historic in the sense that it was the first local training program since they took the national office. It is with great joy that I confer to you a unique game changing development in the history of Gambian Volleyball. GVBA SG Alfousainey Jarju said happily in his closing statements. He further thanked and praised the instructor for his selfless and relentless efforts in developing volleyball.
He challenged the participants to take a good used of the learned skills and participate fully in any volleyball related matter. Jarju seized the opportunity to disclose that GVBA will be embarking on a nationwide tour later this year to sensitize local referees and coaches in the up country on volleyball so as to horn their skills and technical knowhow.
The chairman of the Referee committee Omar Gaye Mbye welcomed the attendants and asked them to put all their experiences to help the development of the sport and appreciated the role of each member supervising certain function in GVBA activity. He was full of praise for the instructor Bai Doudou Jallow who he described as a role model and an exceptional figure in Gambian volleyball.

GVBA Gear up for two International Championships

The Gambia National volleyball teams (male and female) are gearing up for a busy year in international competition. The first international outing for GVBA will be the U-21 Zone II tournament which will be held in Dakar Senegal for a period of ten (10) days, the team will be traveling on Wednesday 13th August 2014 with thirty six man delegations.

The technical committee had identified four coaches to oversee the Under 21 male and female. Alagie Babu Joof and Lamin Sanneh are responsible for the female whiles Ebrima Nyassi and Pa Bubacarr Barrow will guide the male team. Speaking ahead of the championship the Auditor of the Association Alagie Ceesay (Nature) shed light on the importance of the competition. We are ready to exposed our teams in international championships, this is part of the plan to send our national teams whenever we are invited and we are hopeful that we will come out with an outstanding result.

The more we play international games the more we will trade our players to bigger leagues and that will be an additional benefit to the country (Nature) said. The Auditor was quick to opine for more financial supports mainly from the central government and other institutions to support the team to successfully take part in this event.

This tournament will be acted as a warm-up match before the African women championships to be held in Algeria from the 5th – 15th September 2014 for the category of 18 and 23 female and the winner will represent Africa in the qualifiers of the 2015 World cup championship.

In another development The Gambia Volleyball Association is organizing a three (3) days training program on capacity building to horn the skills of locals referees and coaches on the rule and regulation on beach volleyball.

This training program will help the limited local coaches and referees to know more about the Game and FIVB is encouraging there affiliated federations to promote beach volleyball in their respective countries and today beach volleyball is a priority on FIVB developments, Secretary General of the Association Sainey Jarju said.

International referee Mr. Bai Dodou Jallow will be conducting the training program and 20 participants are invited to take part in the training. Among the participants 12 referees and 8 coaches from clubs that are affiliated with Gambia Volleyball Association. The training course will start on Friday 8th – Sunday 10th August 2014 at the Olympafrica Centre Serekunda east from 9:00am – 14:00pm daily.

GVBA is also staging a Nawetan beach volleyball tournament for the first time in the Gambia which will be played at the Sunwing Hotel beach side just near Pocoloco night club. It will kick start on Sunday 17th August 2014 for duration of three (3) weeks and Gamtel is sponsoring the tournament

Eight (8) teams namely Gamtel/Gamcel, Brikama, Sere Kunda East, Jeshwang, GAF, Interior, GFRS and The Gambia Veterans volleyball club

The Executive is also urging stakeholders and companies to come forward and support volleyball which they believe will go a long way in helping out this rather a dormant sport.

GVBA set to stage First Beach Volleyball Tournament

Gambia Volleyball Association will for the first time stage a Nawetan beach volleyball tournament in the Gambia which will be played at the Sunwing beach hotel just near Pocoloco night club. It will kick start on Sunday 24th August 2014 for duration of three (3) weeks.

Eight (8) teams namely Gamtel/Gamcel, Brikama, Sere Kunda East, Jeshwang, GAF, Interior, GFRS and The Gambia Veterans volleyball club will participate in the maiden tournament. Speaking exclusively ahead of the tournament the Association’s Secretary General Alfousainey Jarju with delight stated the readiness of the body to take this historic passage in Gambian sports. Beach volleyball is an integral development program for the FIVB and CAVB therefore we are so much glad to introduce the game in the country.

Beach volleyball is a game that can be played even in an open ground and is a spectator sport GVBA Auditor Alagie Ceesay opined. We need support from all sectors to come on board and support the Association. The Executive is also urging stakeholders and companies to come forward and support volleyball which they believe will go a long way in helping out the sport.

Meanwhile Gambia Volleyball Association regrets to inform the General public that the Zone 2 sub-regional competitions that supposed to be held in Senegal, from August 13th is called off indefinitely due to the alarming suspicion of the deadly EBOLA virus in Senegal. The Association thanks all concern stakeholders and those who facilitated the preparation and apologize for any inconvenience.