For the first time since the likes of Oren Hodge and a slew of Brathwaite Boys formed the Junior team and came home with an OECS Silver Medal, the VIVA has entered a Junior Men's team in the ECVA Championships in St. Maarten. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Marlon Solomon is the teams Head Coach and has been hard at work with his inexperienced squad, molding them into a team that will give the other participating Countries a run for their money. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Assistant Coach Andre Brathwaite, looks on as his young charges show some athletic defence. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson

Whilst not exactly testament to a flourishing youth development programme, competing in the tournament will be a major step in the right direction for volleyball and validates the hard work being put into the sport by members of the Association and some of its senior players.

The squad is all under 18 and whilst inexperienced, according to Head Coach Marlon Solomon, the boys have been hard at work in preparation for the competition. “Training has been going very well and I have a very young squad working with me. I have a lot of boys from Elmore Stoutt High School as well as those who played in the recent Senior Power League,” he noted.

 “The Boy’s have got a good grasp of the game and what I have been doing is molding them specifically to compete in the Tournament.”

The matches start in St Maarten on Saturday and although realizing the inexperience of his squad will be a factor, Solomon is quietly confidant of a competitive showing. “We will be playing several other teams including the strongest team in the Tournament, St Lucia. Hopefully we can get some good experience and give some of the teams a run for their money.”

The development process for Volleyball is in its early stages having lapsed in recent times but with the efforts of Solomon, who coaches two women’s teams in the domestic league and the likes of Andre Brathwaite, the future looks bright for the sport. There is an obvious enjoyment and desire amongst the boys to do well and they have gelled quickly into a team unit.

Solomon also hopes that this will be the start of finding and honing the skills of a new generation of players to force their way into senior representative sides. “We have seen the level that we need to be at during the last senior tournament so with the continued support of the Association and players we can look to attain that level from an earlier age. The squad has a great camaraderie having played at school or in the league together and they have really gelled during practice with a good chemistry.”

The squad is Paul Mourillon, Ricky Singh, Marlon Burke, Clyde Potter Junior, Jordan Grant, Mickey Joseph, Tyler Jackson, Jahmal Freeman and Carldon Morton.

Assisting Solomon will be Andre Brathwaite and the Manager, Rockel Woods.