Federation targets clubs

The Western Rally volleyball tournament will be staged at the Lautoka Multi-purpose court this weekend. Organisers stated that the two-day event is expected to be the biggest with 30 teams set to play.

Fiji Volleyball Federation vicepresident Taitusi Naiduki said yesterday the event for the first time would be more club focused.

“This new shift for volleyball is to encourage club participation,” he said.

“This is the new direction for the sport in the country as associations are in reality harder to sustain.” Naiduki said for example tournaments organised by Marist Volleyball has encouraged club competition.

“We need to increase and make wider participants to come and participate. If you go to the community either in the villages, beachside, near the mangrove site people are playing volleyball but they don’t end up in this competitive level,” Naiduki said.

He said three divisions would be categorised at the Vanua Challenge that would be played later in the year.

“We are inviting teams from resorts, hotels, church groups and village teams to participate. We need to expose other players too since we now have quality competition.” Naiduki some of the teams that have been confirmed for this weekend are from Waiyavi in Lautoka and Nadi. He said the participating teams would be confirmed today as the tournament starts on Friday.