New-look national men’s volleyball team for ECVA outing

A new-look St Vincent and the Grenadines senior men’s volleyball team will take the plunge this weekend in the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association tournament in Antigua and Barbuda.{{more}}

The outing is seen as part of the rebuilding process of the sport here, according to coach of the team Brian Burke.

“It is primarily an inexperienced team… It is all about development and see what we can achieve at this time… We are investing in these youngsters … We are in the rebuilding process right now,” Burke advanced.

Burke added that some of the players are still in school, but it would be a good outing for them to play at a higher level of competition.

Burke said that a list of factors accounted for the eventual choice of the team, as the core of the last team is unavailable, as some have studies or work commitments, while others have migrated.

He counted team captain Cassius Franklyn and Jahmal Small, Hechford Woodley and Devon Williams as those with previous senior team experience.

Completing the selectees are newcomers Gary Constantine, Demetrius Franklyn, Akeme Franklyn, Asmond Franklyn, Brendon Smart and Jamal Edwards.

Reviewing the team’s preparations, Burke claimed, “The preparations, I must say, was fair because it was a start and stop because of the constant putting off of the tournament, but we been training since about the end of January.

“We also had a weekend of preparations in Barbados, where we engaged Deacons Volleyball Club to help blood some of the youngsters,” Burke said.

Burke, however, noted that with most of the players residing in the rural areas, the cost of commuting to Kingstown regularly also affected the preparations.

St Vincent and the Grenadines will lock horns with French St Martin, St Maarten, Dominica, host Antigua and Barbuda and defending champions St Lucia. (RT)