
Team Vanuatu with Coach Michel Bargmann and HP Researcher Robb Francis
With only over month before the volleyball season comes to an end the Vanuatu Volleyball Federation (VVF) declared the final shows on and off the courts this week.
The federation also pointed out some achievements and failures throughout this year 2023.
Through a press release VVF stated that it will be a very busy November for the active players.
“The Pacific Games looms on the horizon in the Solomon Islands (from the 19th of November to the 2nd of December), with the Beach Volleyball taking place in the final week, and Team Vanuatu being represented in both the Women’s and Men’s competition,” VVF confirmed.
VVF also announced that the group’s number 2 pair, Loti Joe and Linline Matauatu, November will be spent in Australia, participating in both a Queensland Tour event from 11 to 12 of November and an FIVB Futures event in Victoria on the 22nd of November.
Also, in one of the most renowned tournaments is the The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball or FIVB challenger in Thailand will see Majabelle Tawac and Sherysyn Toko participating in it from November 16 to November 19 before heading to Honiara.
According to VVF, in the local community, VVF will run the ever-popular annual Cascade Corporate Shield event over several weeks across November to December, for Vanuatu’s very supportive business community.
This will be followed by events marking the International Day of People with Disability (IDPWD), which is celebrated annually on December 3.
Therefore, VVF, through its Volley 4 Change program which is supported by Team Up Vanuatu, will run activities in both Port Vila and Luganville on December 6, in collaboration with its various stakeholder partners, including the Vanuatu Society for People with Disabilities (VSPD) and the Vanuatu Paralympic Committee (VPC).
VVF has also welcomed back several of its previous coaches for ‘cameo’ appearances, with their invaluable support enabling the participation and development of Team Vanuatu across several fronts, as it continues on a strong development path.
“Among these is Michel Bargmann, who coached the women’s team in their Gold medal success at the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa, and has returned from Germany with his young family, for 5 months to oversee the title defence,” VFF continued.
Michel hit the ground running in early September, returning just in time to coach the Team Vanuatu squad, in collaboration with longtime support coach Shanon Zunker, to a second-place finish for both the men and women, at the Continental Cup – Oceania (Phase 1) Olympic qualifying tournament. This result means that Vanuatu will move onto the next stage of qualifying, the Continental Cup Semi Finals (Phase 2), in June next year.
It has been a big year so far for Vanuatu Volleyball with international Pro Tour tournaments, Youth Commonwealth Games, Schools’ games, development, coaching and referee workshops, not to mention hosting an Olympic qualifier.
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SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST