By JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH Monday, August 20 2012

NATIONAL volleyball player, Marc Anthony Honore has called on the sport’s authorities and the business community to hasten their footsteps toward further developing volleyball as an Olympic-bound initiative.

The Portugal-based Honore openly stated that if volleyball is given the right amount of professional and corporate attention, Trinidad and Tobago would more than be able to field a quality team to represent at the forthcoming 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“I see a bright future for Trinidad volleyball, but we won’t reach there by doing the same thing we have always done, we need to make the right changes. Our time for having a serious chance at qualifying for the Olympics is coming, but we can shorten that waiting time! It will require a better, more dedicated effort from the local authorities and hopefully, the private sector to assist in any way they can,” explained Honore.

The former Naparima College player admitted that the sport would need an all-round and dedicated effort for significant competitive progression.

He paid particular attention to the young and upcoming volleyball prospects and highlighted that they were the roots of TT’s sporting future and hopeful successes.

“We need to actively find and then develop young athletes using modern training methods. Providing high level training for local coaches is also vital. We have a few individuals locally who love the game and devote their time, money and knowledge to volleyball but a proper high level system is missing.

A system that will provide a fun team sport for kids but also a vibrant volleyball culture from which the future stars can be identified and trained,” he added.

While Honore was pleased with the current national squad, he revealed that they may have been in a better competitive global position if the right investments and infrastructures were put in place beforehand.

He pleaded with the local business community and investors to inject funds and time into the sport, since this was the only way the national team would be able to increase their chances of making an Olympic-debut.

“We are currently performing far below our potential on the international level. We could easily produce many professional players and therefore a much stronger national team if we take the necessary steps,” he said.

Honore continued, “With the right attitude and the financial support, we can achieve these goals. Better training and financial support also means more knowledgeable players who can remain at home to speed up the development of the next generation.

“This is how we will make it to the Olympics. We have many young players with the right attitude and loads of potential but we are failing to help them reach the next level.”

In conclusion, the very experienced volleyball player revealed that the sport should be treated just as any one of TT’s main disciplines (football, cricket, athletics).

Honore affirmed that if TT establishes a proper volleyball culture, the overall short and long-term benefits that would be derived, will be highly commendable, both on the local and the international stage.

“I think that getting any team sport to the Olympic level, from Trinidad, has proven to be more difficult than in individual sports like athletics, cycling or swimming to name a few. The local volleyball community is slowly growing and we are just breaking into the professional ranks.

“Ensuring that more young people learn of all the benefits available through team sports, especially volleyball, is key. By creating the right volleyball culture in Trinidad, we will reach a long way.

“The benefits are numerous; valuable life lessons including teamwork and discipline as well as Scholarships, careers as professional volleyball players or coaches, and one day the honor of representing our nation at the Olympic Games,” concluded Honore.