Last week, beach volleyball duos representing federations supported by the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program from Argentina, the Cayman Islands, and the Netherlands achieved podium finishes at various zonal events. Simultaneously, a knowledge transfer program was conducted as part of the CAZOVA U18 Beach Volleyball Championships in Trinidad & Tobago, further enhancing local expertise.
WEVZA Beach Volleyball Tour in Modena, Italy
At the WEVZA Tour men’s event in Modena, Italy, the Dutch pair Mart van Werkhoven and Cain van Hal secured a silver medal. The host nation`s representatives, Davis Krumins and Marco Caminati, claimed gold, while Matteo Cecchini and Marco Ulisse took bronze. The Netherlands Volleyball Federation (Nevobo) has received significant support from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment, totaling USD 217,600, specifically for coaching national beach volleyball teams. Their men`s teams are expertly trained by Michiel van der Kuip, a 1995 European champion, and his staff.
Van Werkhoven and Van Hal navigated a challenging path through the playoffs after finishing third in their pool, securing three consecutive wins to reach the final where they ultimately earned silver. The tournament featured 18 men`s teams from Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
CAVB Zone 1 Beach Volleyball Tour in Misrata, Libya
Argentine athletes Juan Bautista Amieva Tarditti and Maciel Bueno Torres, beneficiaries of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program, clinched the gold medal at the CAVB Zone 1 Tour in Misrata, Libya. Tunisia’s Mohamed Aziz Lenglize and Adem Elmeddeb earned silver, with Libya’s Anas Altllouah and Wael Almalti securing bronze. FIVB has invested USD 42,000 in coaching support for Argentina’s beach volleyball project, with Coach Giuliano Mezzagno leading their men’s and women’s national teams. Amieva and Bueno delivered a flawless performance, winning all seven of their matches, including a straight-sets victory over Tunisia in the final. The event saw 10 men’s duos compete.
CAVB Zone 3 Beach Volleyball Nations Cup in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Men`s Competition
Ghana`s Abdul Hameed Ibrahim and Paul Akan were crowned men’s champions at the CAVB Zone 3 Beach Volleyball Nations Championship in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Benin’s Daouda Yacoubou and Mensan Tobby N Tohouegnon took silver, while another Ghanaian pair, Eric Tsatsu and Philip Amissah, finished with bronze. Ibrahim and Akan demonstrated strong form throughout, securing six unbeaten matches to claim the title.
Women`s Competition
In the women’s competition, Nigeria’s Esther Onyinye and Mbah Pamela Bawa emerged victorious. Ghana’s Benedicta Mawuse Morti and Juliana Otcherewaa Aryee took home the silver medal, and Nigeria’s Odoh Ifechukwu Faustina and Joy Lawrence secured bronze. Esther and Pamela won a hard-fought final match with a 2-1 score. A total of 15 men’s and 12 women’s pairs participated in this championship from Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Togo.
CAZOVA U18 Beach Volleyball Championships in Courland, Trinidad & Tobago
A national team coach development knowledge transfer program, funded by FIVB Volleyball Empowerment with USD 6,000, was successfully held during the CAZOVA U18 Beach Volleyball Championships in Courland. Notably, two teams from the Cayman Islands, whose federation has previously benefited from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support (receiving USD 84,000 in total through 2024 for their national beach volleyball teams), earned medals. Dylan Lynee and William Duty secured men’s silver, while Luna Ebanks and Krisi Smith claimed women’s bronze. Barbados` Destiny Layne and Janica Grant triumphed in the women’s final, and the home team of Michael Burkett and Jeremiah Jankey won the men’s competition. Haiti’s Luckenly Joseph and Julien Philippe earned the men`s bronze medal. The championships featured seven women’s and nine men’s teams from Aruba, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Haiti, Martinique, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago, and the Virgin Islands.
