Ten-time Caribbean Volleyball Championships (CVC) kings Barbados left yesterday for St Croix in the United States Virgin Islands to attempt to regain the title they lost in 2008 at home.
Since 1992, when Barbados began a period of regional volleyball supremacy in Jamaica, they have not competed at CVC without inspirational player and captain Elwyn Oxley, who retired after Barbados lost the title for the second time in 2010 in Suriname.
Experienced setter Dale Addison has also retired after making his debut in 1996 in St Croix as an attacker.
Even so, coach Ludger Niles and new captain Jamal Nedd were confident that a team effort could see Barbados, with four newcomers – Ronald Rice, Leshon Alexander, Raphael Anthony and junior team captain Jabarry Goodridge – blunting threats from defending champions Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, Jamaica and Martinique, who stunned Barbados in 2008.
“We have a lot of experience in [Jamal] Nedd, Fabian Cox, Daran Gill and Shawn Simpson, who, added with the talent among the younger players, should give us a very good chance of winning,” said Niles.
However, the coach was concerned that all-rounder Kyle Brown had to be withdrawn from the squad at the 11th hour on medical advice.
“Kyle is a very talented player who can spike from any side of the court and he is a very good setter, so it will be hard to find a replacement player with his abilities,” Niles said.
Former CARIFTA?high jumper Nedd opted out of the 2010 championships but returns to the team confident a team effort would compensate for the absence of Oxley, Addison and 6-foot, 6-inch middle player Romel Agard, who is enrolled at the Regional Police Training School.
“We have a group of talented juniors and experienced players who are aware that there will be no Oxley, so this gives everyone a chance to make a bigger contribution,” Nedd said.
“The starters will have to play as a unit and not be counting on one man. Replacing Oxley is hard, but playing as a unit we can fill that void.”
This tournament will see a split with the men opening, while the women’s event will follow for the first time.
Centre player Nedd, while admitting that in the past on tour the support of the women and other spectators played a role in helping to boost the team on court, said it was up to each individual to draw motivation from within to justify their roles as international athletes.
The squad: Jamal Nedd, Fabian Cox, Alain London, Shawn Simpson, Ronald Rice, Leshon Alexander, Jabarry Goodridge, Raphael Anthony, Torand Cheltenham, Daran Gill, Akeem Payne, Sheldon Roach. Coach: Ludger Niles; assistant coach: Son Hurdle; manager: Roxanne London.
