CAVB Zone 4 Unveils Ambitious Volleyball Development Vision for 2024-2028 Olympiad

CAVB Zone 4 has taken a calculated step towards improving volleyball in Central Africa. Its ambition is to qualify a team from the region for the 2028 Olympics. To make this dream come true, President Bello Bourdane and his team have revealed an elaborate development plan while addressing the unique challenges facing the eight-nation zone.

The vision was presented at an FIVB working session yesterday, providing a feasible blueprint for changing the game of volleyball in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Chad. This area encompasses more than 5.3 million square kilometres with significant logistical challenges to overcome.

“Our vision for the 2024-2028 Olympiad is to capitalise on every opportunity offered by recent changes in volleyball leadership and work toward specific goals,” explained Bourdanne, who also serves on the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment Commission.

The plan acknowledges considerable obstacles, including prohibitive air transportation costs, language barriers (French, Arabic, Spanish, and Portuguese), uneven volleyball development across member nations, lack of long-term sponsors, and heavy reliance on government support for national teams and clubs.

Strategic Priorities for Regional Growth

The Zone 4 strategy focuses on three timeframes—short, medium, and long-term actions—with clear objectives:

Short-Term Goals (Next 6 Months)

• Leverage FIVB’s Empowerment Program to access coach training courses, equipment donations, and administrative support.
• Establish bilateral cooperation between stronger and developing federations within the zone.
• Implement targeted development plans for Gabon, Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea, which currently lag behind their neighbours.

Medium-Term Goals

• Organise Zone 4 championships in both indoor volleyball and beach volleyball that will serve as qualifiers for the African Nations Championship.
• Launch a Pro Beach Tour within the zone to help athletes specialise and gain world rankings.
• Strengthen national teams through improved physical and mental training programs.

Long-Term Vision

• Establish a Regional Volleyball Development Centre with support from FIVB, the host government, regional political bodies (CEEAC/CEMAC), and European embassies.
• Build and renovate high-quality volleyball courts throughout the region.
• Develop transparent management practices and diversify funding sources.

“We aim to ensure a country from Zone 4 qualifies for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, achieve FIVB rankings for all Zone 4 nations, and organise more age-category competitions throughout Africa,” Bourdane emphasised.

Grassroots Development Focus

A significant aspect of the plan involves fostering talent among young people:

• Facilitating the establishment of volleyball academies in member countries.
• Enhancing the visibility of volleyball in schools and universities.
• Establishing a systematic system of scouting and monitoring young athletes.
• Increasing female participation through targeted programs.

The Zone 4 leadership has sought FIVB’s technical expertise, human resources, and management software to effectively execute their vision.