Excitement is emerging as The Gambia is set to host its first international major tournament on beach volleyball in Banjul.
The Zone II beach volleyball event is coming to Banjul in December as eight countries namely Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Sierra Leone and the host Gambia line up for one of the biggest beach volleyball events in Zone II billed to take place from 15th to 18th December 2016.
The Gambia was granted the hosting right by the Association of National Olympic Committees in Africa (ANOCA) following the committee’s board meeting in Bamako, Mali in December 2015.
The Zone II event is a clear manifestation of Gambia’s exceptional performances in beach volleyball over the past 12 months.
Three years ago, the Gambia beach volleyball teams were languishing with a mediocre record in Africa. Fast forward to 2015, the women national team had racked up sixteen wins and three loses across Africa, while the men’s team collated thirteen wins and 6 loses with their biggest victory against the Egypt in the continental cup finals in Tunisia, Gambia also defeated Senegal for the first time in the zone. Not only does Gambia has a winning record, it is also ranked 8th on the current Confederation of African Volleyball rankings.
“We are happy about the news and we are looking forward to the event. We are looking forward to many reforms, many changes and various developments which will have a positive impact on the development of our game in the Zone and this beach volleyball championship is one of the developments and it will be the first event in the zone since change of leadership took place. We will all gain a lot of opportunities in the next four years and I hope that we all work towards this with a common goal,” said Bai Dodou Jallow.
He applauded his executive board for the commitment and urged them to continue working hard for the sport..
The event will be fully funded by ANOCA Zone II and all participating countries will arrive in the Gambia on December 15 by caravan from Dakar.
Source: Muhammed Lamin Saidykhan, GVBF Press Officer