MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 23, 2024. – The first Central American U17Girls’ Championship, organized by the Association of Central American Volleyball Federations (AFECAVOL), offers a great opportunity to witness emerging talents and the ongoing development of youth volleyball in the region.
The coaches of the six competing teams emphasized the importance of such a tournament for this age group, as it marks the first competitive steps for these players.
José Fontes, Head coach of Belize: “Belize’s expectations are to see our players grow, as they don’t have much competitive experience. The first thing we will demand is that they improve and have the right attitude both on and off the court. It’s a great opportunity for all of them to grow and start learning what competition is about”.
Julio Dominguez, Head coach of Guatemala: “This is a very important category because it forms the foundation for our federations, as athletes for future national teams will come from here. We are eager and enthusiastic to begin this competition, which we expect to be very balanced. We thank AFECAVOL for taking the initiative to launch this age group”.
Pedro Rivas, coach of El Salvador: “This is a new tournament for the region, and we are very happy that AFECAVOL decided to host this event for girls in this age group. We are prepared to compete, and we hope to surprise other teams. We know all the countries are strong, but we will do our best”.
Cristiam Rodríguez, Head coach of Honduras: “We’ve come with a solid process, and we hope to perform well and secure a spot on the podium. I believe this category is very important because the development of girls at this age is more challenging. There are more mistakes, and more corrections are needed, so being in competition will help us a lot. We all want to perform well, and it’s going to be a great tournament”.
Claudia Noguera, Head coach of Nicaragua: “Our goal is to represent our country with dignity. We have a group of talented young players, and we hope to be fighting for a spot on the podium. This age group is essential because it marks the beginning of an athlete’s career, and their development at this stage is key to achieving a good playing rhythm as they transition to adulthood”.
Kareem Richard, Head coach of Costa Rica: “Our expectations are very high. Costa Rica always strives to be a reference point, and we have worked on both technical and tactical aspects to ensure a good performance in this inaugural tournament for this age group. The girls are excited, as is the coaching staff, and we are eagerly waiting for the event to start”.
The tournament will be held from Tuesday to Saturday at the Volleyball Gymnasium of the Sports Institute (IND) in Managua, with matches starting at 1:30 p.m. On Tuesday, the opening ceremony will take place before the third match (6:30 p.m.), with local authorities in attendance.
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