The
Gambia men’s indoor volleyball team has been disqualified from the All African
Games currently under way in Congo, Brazzaville.This was after missing 3 matches in Pool A
because the team failed to show up at the games.
The team along with the Gambian delegation was supposed to leave The Gambia on Wednesday, 9 September 2015, the very day when The Gambia will play her 4th game against Botswana.
A communication from the president of African Volleyball Federation, Dr Amr Elwani, said:“According to our CAVB and FIVB sport regulations, it is impossible to participate after a team missed the second match.
“By September 9th, nearly all the qualifying group matches would be finished so your participation in this AAG is over; your team cannot participate and cannot be even accommodated in the Olympic village, so please do not let them fly to Congo.”
The executive director of CAVB, Howyda Mondy, said: “We are aware of the predicament your men’s volleyball team has gone through in their efforts to come to Congo Brazzaville for the All Africa Games.
“While we sympathise with the challenges the team has been through, it will not be possible for the team to arrive on the 9th September 2015 and take part in the competition. By this date all the preliminary matches will have ended with the finals slated to be played on 12 September 2015.”
Meanwhile, the beach volleyball team is on the way to Brazzaville via Dakar.They left Banjul on Monday with the head coach, Alhaji Babou Joof, and two players: Malick Jammeh and Baboucarr Jarra.
Shortly before leaving, Mr Jammeh said: “We both know that great volleyball nations will converge in Brazzaville for the games.This is our first appearance in the continental stage, but we will give our best.We aim to raise the flag of our nation by finishing among the best three nations in Africa.”
The Gambia beach volleyball team’s participation is jointly funded by the Gambia National Olympic Committee and the President of FIVB, Dr Ary S. Graca.
The AAG beach volleyball competitions will start on September 9th.The Gambian men’s team is ranked second in Zone II, behind Sierra Leone.
