New elected WVBF Board of Administration Members

(Lausanne 26.12.08) The WVBF biannual Congress, which was held for 2 days in Lugano
Switzerland on 11 and 12 December 2008, stated with a great joy the WVBF huge ethical
growth with solidarity in the World. Consequently and as legitimated by the WVBF founding
congress in November 2006 in Copenhagen, the 60 present or represented affiliated
National Associations decided to elect exceptionally and for a 2 year term period several new
Board of Administration members.
Fully complying with the Olympic and democratic fundamentals, the elections were held by
secrete ballots and controlled by 2 scrutinizers and by the ethics President, Professor
Hanspeter Graf. The FMVB/WVBF is the only World Volleyball and Beach Volleyball
Federation which respects the ethical, democratic and Olympic principles.
Out of 5 candidates for Africa, 4 members were elected as follows Léontine Tiani,
Cameroun, Makan Diarra, Mali, Simon Albert Mensah, Ghana, Neil Chamisa,
Zimbabwe. For Europe were elected Vittorio Silvestri, Italia, and Lasse Svensson,
Sweden. For Americas, were elected Manuel Lara, Dominican Republic, and Bernardo
Pavisic, Bolivia.
« The Board of Administration members are the best WVBF Ethic and Olympics
ambassadors in their country and continent ; I know them and I saw them working with ethic,
efficiency and courage; that’s why I have dedicated to them my trust » said Jean-Pierre
Seppey, WVBF President.
« I enjoy collaborating with Manuel Lara and Bernardo Pavisic respectively for our
development in Central and Sur Americas where WVBF is convincing on every day thanks to
its finance transparency and to its direct support to Volleyball and Beach Volleyball » stated
Luis Moreno, 1st WVBF Vice President .
Lugano Congress decided to create as well the West Africa Zone which will be very active
in development, instruction, Volleyball and Beach Volleyball competitions.

Photo from left to right : Bernardo Pavisic, Vittorio Silvestri, Manuel Lara, Léontine Tiani, Neil Chamisa, Simon Albert Mensah, Makan Diarra

Mozambique Beach Volleyball and Volleyball Federation : In pursuit of ethical Volleyball excellence

A new member has joined the WVBF today the 14th of June 2008. Named the Mozambique Volleyball Federation the inaugural congress has been held fro the 14th June 2008 to 17th June 2008 at Tropical Lodge Maputo, with the first elections of the executive elections. With the WVBF representative Mr. Neil Chamisa present the MVF was duly registered with its affiliation and dedication to the WVBF constitution, ethics and principles.

The inauguration of the federation drew a lot of interest from a lot of people including local media, politics volleyball clubs and individuals in pursuit of ethical volleyball. The founding members were in full support of the WVBF ethics and principles and pledged to work with the executive to further the WVBF programs in Mozambique.

The WVBF representative Mr. Neil Chamisa explained how the International Federation (WVBF) had assisted his local association, materially and financially and presented a report on the event they hosted in Zimbabwe The Zimbabwe Open Cup with assistance from the WVBF. He also pledged full support from the WVBF but highlighted the need for transparency and ethics, investment in development and urged members to continue working together in spite of all who will come and hinder their good work.

He gave a case study of Mr J P Seppey the founding WVBF president who has been resilient in his work since the formation of the WVBF. He has traveled places explaining the principles of the ethics of the WVBF and has affiliated many federations in the process. He has continued working hard despite attracting many enemies in the process.

He urged the Mozambique executive to take one step at a time, organize development projects in schools, competitions for local clubs, women volleyball and finally competitions at national level. He finally thanked the government representative, Mr. Joachim Gildal Mutola, for taking time to attend the great occasion of the Mozambique Volleyball Federation inauguration.

He expressed to the members that this day a new member has joined the family thus the Mozambique Volleyball Federation was duly affiliated to the WVBF.

ELECTED MEMBERS: Mr. Trevor Da Gama (President), Mr. Joachim Severa (First Vice President), Mr. Manuel Agostinho Rabucane (Vice President), Mr. Riaz Shair (Technical Director), Mrs. Florence Musiniwa (Women Volleyball Director)

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ANSWERED « PRESENT »

(Santo Domingo 18/2/08).- While announcing, in his press conference in the Dominican Republic main City, the National Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Association’s creation and affiliation to WVBF, the World Volleyball and Beach Volleyball federation, Manuel Lara took pride in being the first President of a Caribbean country to have joined WVBF.

With numerous athletes and media representatives, Manuel Lara explained the reasons which conduct to the national association’s creation i.e. the respect of the Olympic Charter’s Fundamentals and the clean practice of our sports.
Really with his executive committee, he wants to give to the youth in his country another way to practice Volleyball and Beach Volleyball.

Jean-Pierre Seppey, WVBF President, and Luis Moreno, first Vice President, welcomed warmly Dominican Republic in their world institution, underlined the national leaders’ personal skills and defined as historical the foundation of the new national Association which will offer finally to the Dominican Republic the possibility to practice Volleyball and Beach Volleyball with ethics, transparency and with the respect of the law.

On their turn, World Personalities condemned the severe irregularities made by some FIVB Leaders In Dominican Republic and ensured that they will follow and sanctioned any hostile Act against the new National Association.

pic. caption:Luis Moreno, Jean-Pierre Seppey, Manuel Lara, Juana Guzman

Interview of Luis Moreno, first WVBF Vice President

1. For nearly two years WVBF has been developing Volleyball particularly in Africa. What about South America?

It’s true. The WVBF has succeeded in Africa with an important development in comparison with other continents. This result is encouraging, but at the same time, commits us to find special conditions from each geographic area, then to work about with those realities and to include in our proposals the method and the conditions that assure a same or a major impact which worked well in the African continent.


2. As the first WVBF Vice President representing our World Federation in South America, what are you medium – term objectives?

We have several objectives, but may be the most important and immediate would be to spread our message among the athletes, the National Beach Volleyball and Volleyball Associations and all the sports people. I am sure that when all of them will know our concepts, they will surely choose the offered alternative by our new World Federation which, with solid moral principles, will let them participate in the democratic decisions making process.


3. Which are the values you defend in the WVBF?

This is an issue that I want to be very clear on. The modern sport needs the democratic systems, honest leaders, new ideas, and transparency in the management. My participation in the WVBF is anchored on that thought, because It keeps a consistent and an ethical conduct with the trajectory I have always had in sports.


4. How do you see the WVBF`s future in the world sport movement?

The future is built by a good planning, ordered work and actions that contribute to the development. The WVBF respects these principles, therefore I am optimistic that soon we will be rewarded with the solid support of the organized groups of Beach Volleyball and Volleyball; and then,we will get the official recognition from the International Olympic Committee.


5. We know that the ethical principles are essential in Africa. What can be said for South America?

The principles that you mention are essential in every sport organization. I think that we should follow the same way in America as we do in Africa. Most items of the next Board Administration meetings will be oriented in order to find out the strategies to reach the objectives within the track period.


6. Beach Volleyball tournaments with WVBF PROSERIES are in discussions on your continent. In Peru is it a commonly practiced sport?

Volleyball is a popular sport in America, recently it was considered as the second sport in the south of the continent, and his beach version is widespread in places like Brazil, USA, Argentina and Mexico; but nevertheless, most of the National Federations have not yet found the right formula for a full development. This situation opens great possibilitie and an enormous challenge for WVBF and his partner PROSERIES; and may be there could be the key that allows us the entrance to the American continent.

Interview made by Florian Urfer, WVBF Assistant

THE EXAMPLE OF MALI: Who are you Mr Makan Diarra?

My name is M Diarra Makan, 50 year old Malian International Volleyball player in the 80s, studied economics and I am now Chairman of the AMDVB, Malian Association for Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Development.

What is the history of Volleyball in Mali?

The history of Malian Volleyball is dotted with highs and lows, the best years, with no risk of being mislead, lie between the periods 1970 -1986. Today, Mali has about 6000 Volleyball players for about 3000 courts out of which only a 5th is fitted.
These courts are located within the premises of schools and should be maintained in good condition but because of a lack in resources it is very difficult to keep them in good condition.
It is for this reason that the AMDVB wants to concentrate its actions on negotiations with schools and authorities in order to establish and maintain sports facilities and to have them used by the National Association of Mali.

Tell us about the AMDVB?
The AMDVB Association has been existing for less than a year. Since the meeting in Johannesburg in February 2007, we felt that changes must be made to develop Volleyball in all its forms in the countries of the African continent.

What are the prospects for the AMDVB?
The battle is very difficult, given that our country since its independence is affiliated to the FIVB whose legal texts exclude any possibility of membership in other sports organizations who develop the same disciplines.
Nevertheless, by working with schools and creating Sports Associations, we have circumvented these legal barriers. The hope is permissible because the future belongs to the youth and schools which are the best nursery for our sport.

Since your accession to the WVBF, what did change?
Since our accession to the WVBF, we understood that it is possible to develop Volleyball in underprivileged countries. We also know that the WVBF leaders have the desire to help us unlike those of the FIVB have done nothing for us for decades. We know personally the WVBF leaders’ ethics and seriousness and we know that they have already supported us concretely and that they are willing to repeat in the future their actions. We hope that their work, professional actions and faith will continue and increase in the long term.

What is your view on Volleyball in Africa?
Volleyball in Africa is long overdue especially for countries south of the Sahara because of the political bias introduced by the senior officers of the FIVB who have penalized poor countries by denying them the right to enjoy the property facts of this discipline.

What do you like to be improved?
According to my aspirations, I would like to see very quickly:
A) The IOC official recognition of WVBF who fully respects the Olympic Charter so that we can facilitate our work with respect to our authorities.
B) That the WVBF foresees a tour in our respective countries with a view to establishing contacts with the International sports bodies which will enhance our credibility. Consequently, we can have the adequate support to equip a maximum of infrastructure for Volleyball.

What are your hobbies?
As a former Volleyball player, I can only promote this discipline that I admire.

Do you have a particular message?
My message is to stand firm despite of the difficulties, obstacles and disappointments. Success is at the end of the effort. Compared to us, we have to be patient because we can not change overnight. However, our goal is one day to be able to reverse the actual trend so that our countries are considered as major Volleyball Nations by the WVBF.

Interview made by Alain DENGUESSI

First elected FIABVB Board of Administration

(Lausanne, le 25 novembre 2006) – FIABVB Board of Administration
Elections à Copenhague le 25 Novembre 06
Jean-Pierre Seppey, (CH-ITA), President
Luis Moreno, (Peru), Premier Vice President
Geneviève Mendoza, (CH), Vice Presidente
Idriss Dokony Adiker, (CHAD), Vice President
Cristina Coto, (Costa Rica), Vice Presidente
Eselealofa Apinelu, (Tuvalu), Vice Presidente


Mario Goijman, (Argentina), Membre
Alfio Sacchi Filho, (Brazil), Membre
Dominique Atchawe, (Benin), Membre
Arne Kiesenwetter, (Germany), Membre
Goran Valic, (Slovenia), Membre
Gregor Lah, (Slovenia), Membre