2018 Men’s African Club Volleyball Championship - Swim Blue Pals in Egypt on a mission |26 March 2018
Seychelles representatives Swim Blue Pals are already in Cairo, Egypt to take part in the 2018 Men’s African Club Volleyball Championship due to serve off tomorrow at the Ahly Club Halls.
Winners of the CAVB Zone 7 Indian Ocean Club Championship on a 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-23) score against two-time outgoing champions Gendarmerie Nationale of Madagascar in their first involvement some three weeks ago on home soil to write their names in the history books, Swim Blue Pals left the country on Saturday, a day after receiving their travel documents from National Sports Council chief executive Giovanna Rousseau.
Swim Blue Pals manager Hughes Hoareau said his team are going to Cairo in search of a place on the medals podium and not just to make up the numbers.
“My team are ready for the competition. We will play hard and to the best of our ability to finish on the medals podium,” said manager Hoareau.
Coached by Frenchman Olivier Sauer and assisted by John Julie, the Swim Blue Pals team comprise 14 players: captain Ian Furneau, Guilly Bijoux, Benjamin Bijoux, Perrin Sophola, Jones Mangroo, Dilan Bastienne, Joliff Rose, Jean Philippe Vidot, Shane Farabeau, Daniel Lozaique, Nerry Sophola, Yuri Saleck Tabe, Massa Coulibaly and Wilbert Payet recruited from La Digue.
According to reports, a record 32 teams had registered to take part in the Men’s African Club Volleyball Championship but only the 24 who fulfilled the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) obligations in relation to requirements to participate in the competition have been allowed to compete. The other eight teams have been dropped over poor rankings.
The 10-day tournament will see the best talent from the continent battle it out for the single slot to represent Africa at the World Club Championships, which will be co-hosted by Italy and Bulgaria with eight teams competing in the tournament, including two wild cards.
The 24 teams will be divided into four preliminary pools with the best two sides moving on to the knockout stage.
Hosts Egypt have four clubs including defending champions Al Ahly, Aviation Sporting Club, Talaea Elgiesh and Smouha Sports Club.
The other 20 teams are General Service Unit, Kenya Prisons (Kenya), Olympique Milien Ketamien (Algeria), DGSP (Congo), University of Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Swim Blue Pals (Seychelles), Nemo Stars (Uganda), Red Skins Volleyball Club (Lesotho), Kampala Amateur V. Club – KAVC (Uganda), Wolaitta Dicha Sport Club – WDS (Ethiopia), As Police, Finances VBC (Benin), Bafia Volleyball Evolution – BE, Forces Armées Et Police – FAP, Port Volleyball – PAD (Cameroon), Mwangaza Volleyball Club, VC Espoir (Democratic Republic of Congo), AS Police (Ivory Coast), Al Swehly Club and Ahly Benghazi (Libya).
Seychelles’ international referee Derrick Andrew has also made the trip to Cairo to officiate at the competition.
Meanwhile, the men’s competition comes just after the Africa Women’s volleyball club championship came to an end last weekend with Egyptian side Ahly beating defending champions Carthage. This victory made the Egyptian side Ahly the most successful club in the history of the CAVB Women Club Championship after they won their ninth title. The bronze medal match featured Kenya rivals Prisons and Pipeline, the latter emerging as the winners after defeating archrivals Prisons 3-2.
The just ended women's championship attracted 19 clubs, which was also the highest record for the female category.