- The National Women’s Volleyball Team: Front (stooping) from left Catherine Francis, Keysha Davis, Amelia Joseph, Joycelyn LoblackRear (from left) Shari Pascal, Onica Joseph, Anna Maria Xavier (capt), Lorraine Lockhart, Lisa James, Elizabeth Joseph and Coach Albert Loblack
President of the Dominica Amateur Volleyball Association (DAVA) has expressed frustration that the National Women’s Volleyball Team has been placed at a severe disadvantage at the Caribbean Championships now underway in Suriname because of the absence of three key members from the squad.
Sorhaindo’s comments came on a DBS radio sports programme “Off the Field” on Wednesday evening hosted by award-winning sports reporter Brian Francis. Also on that programme was Robert Guiste and Jeffrey Edmund of DAVA.
The Dominican women suffered their third defeat (in as many games) at the regional competition on Wednesday, going down to Netherlands Antilles in straight sets, 25 – 12, 25 – 20, 25 – 21.
Sorhaindo is confident that had police officer Marcia Gustave, Samantha Smith of the Discover Dominica Authority and Lenel Williams of the Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority been granted time off from work the outcome at the regional competition would have been entirely different.
The DAVA president stated that given the margins of defeat, Dominica would certainly have advanced to the knockout round of the competition, with an excellent chance of medaling.
Jeffrey Edmund, trainer and assistant coach of the national men’s team, has made an appeal for the introduction of an official policy that would provide for athletes to be guaranteed time off by employers, to enable them to represent Dominica in regional, continental and international competitions.
The team’s manager James Dominique also accompanied them to Suriname.
The DAVA officials also highlighted the very unsatisfactory conditions under which the national teams were forced to train, and appealed to the authorities for urgent rehabilitation of the Stockfarm Sports Complex, which they said would greatly enhance the development of volleyball in Dominica.
In spite of the challenges, Guise and Edmund were confident that the National Men’s Team currently preparing for the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Championships in Tortola in September stands an excellent chance of regaining the ECVA Champions title, and qualifying for the 2011 continental (NORCECA) championships.
I find they are very good
@Poke Sa
Hmmm I wonder if these ladies are fat what you would say about some of the players from the other countries who are so much bigger and heavier than our women shown here. Volleyball is not about size but about skill & ability and for years Dominica has been producing great and even phenomenal volleyball players who definitely possess the skill and ability to win.
These ladies obviously performed well at the last tournament to qualify for the one in Suriname and I agree with the plea made to allow players time off from their jobs to represent the country.
Congratulations ladies! Winning is not all that matters congrats on being the only Eastern Caribbean country represented in Suriname. DA Massive come home train some more (even if that place in stocky is ridiculous) and go out again to represent your country.
I look forward to coming to see practice matches and games again.
@PoKeSa: You talking s**hit about out of shape. Is a circle a shape? These women are not pros. They are women with families and also who has to work hard to put bread on their table. These ladies look great and are in shape, that is the reason they are on the national team. Show these ladies respect and congratulate them for doing their best.
@Patriotic: I do understand your point but if this bosses were patriotic themselves then giving time off would not be a problem. They don’t need any incentive from the government to issue time off. This shit have to stop. It’s been going on to dam long. The government should make it manditory that all national players should get time off to represent Dominica.
It’s a disgrace – you are all in the picture ‘out of shape’ or to put it bluntly ‘obese’ and in need of some serious conditioning to be put into shape. By your physics, you all seem more like the national ‘FAT’ team representing D/ca in Volleyball.
Now to each and everyone of you, go forth now and get fit, lose some weight and condition yourselves and come back to preserve the good name D/ca and do justice to yourselves and the sport of Volleyball.
Constructive criticism…
Are these sports officials requesting mandatory time off with pay? If so then the government must also provide some incentives to the businesses. Like tax breaks for instance. I am patriotic and very much for athletes flying our flag oversees. I myself was once upon a time a very active sportsman. But companies cannot be expected to give employees time off from the company’s pockets with no retribution. Even if the time off is unpaid it still comes at a cost to the company. The productivity of the company suffers because that individual is not at work. And hiring a temp replacement involves costs. Government must seat with the Employers Federation to hammer out a consensus before passing any legislation.
these ladies have ‘definition’ I ‘ve always liked volleyball. best wishes