Lome, Togo, June 29, 2012- CAVB Beach Volleyball Junior Cup got underway on Friday at Lome beach in Togo with opening victories for the heavy favourites in both men and women genders.
The competition which acts as a qualifier for the FIVB Beach World Championship features the participation of 8 Men and 9 women teams representing a total of 11 countries.
In the men’s category host Togo, South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire and Burundi started victorious in both of the 2 preliminary round pools.
In the women gender the upcoming Sierra Leone, the heavy favourites Rwanda, South Africa and Nigeria set also their first victory in the morning session.
The competition was opened in presence of guests of honour led by the representant of the Minister of Sports Adjete Da Silveira, the secretary General of the National Olympic Committee Etienne Degboe, the FIVB instructor Prince Agbodjan, CAVB supervisor David Kabre, event supervisor Ali Yaro, CAVB Beach Director Mrs May Alaa, Referee Delegate Hazem El Sherbini, Ass. Referee Delegate Hannington Nsubua, Togo Volleyball Federation President Ayaovi Babanawo.
Togo duo of Antonine Agbegninou/ Florent Apezoumon rebounded back after losing the first set against the Sierra Leone pairing of Patrick Lombi/ Momodu Samura to win a tough encounter 2-1 (17-21, 24-22, 15-10) in the opening day most thrilling encounter.
South Africa’s pair Dean Layters/ Steven Van Nelson used their powerful spikes and proper defence to take over the dark horses Burundi’s Briand Mugabowingabo/ Bruce Dukundane 2-0 (21-17, 21-19)
Cote d’Ivoire team of Betsallel Kobon/ Andre Adjoua overpowers the struggling Mathieu Mboumba/ Odilon Mabindzou from Gabon 2-0 (23-21, 21-18)
Burundi rebounded in their second match to beat Ghana’s Aaron Djarnie/ Setor Zigah 2-0 (21-16, 21-16)
In the women’s competition Sierra Leone team of Hawa Kargstarted/ Josephine Sasay started the day with 2-0 (21-7, 21-18) win against Gabon’s Dorothee Abessolo/ Marva Badole.
South Africa women follow the footsteps of their men’s counterparts as Liezle Petersen/ Brittiny Deelcarme trounced Noran Mangkianda/ Tendai Manyana from Zimbabwe 2-0 (21-10, 21-3).
Nigeria came with the experience of Isabela Eyetsonetan/ Jummai Bitrus to hammer Cote d’Ivoire’s Mankan Sidibe/ Cany Koffi 2-0 (21-6, 21-12).Rwanda continued their big show at the international beach level with 2-0 (21-9, 21-6) win for the duo of Denyse Mutatsimpundu/ Charlotte Nzayisenga over Gabon’s Dorothee Abessolo/ Marva Badole.
The top six teams in both men and women competitions book their tickets to the FIVB World Championship to be held in Halifax, Canada August 29 to September 2.