NAMIBIA has talented volleyball players who should be encouraged to play overseas, says International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Instructor Zohair Ammar.
Ammar said this at a recent 12-day Level One coaches course held at the Patrick Iyambo Police College in Windhoek. Ammar said the level of volleyball in Namibia would improve if players played in other countries where the game was played on a more professional level.Many of the players in his home country Egypt play in Italy, France and the United States and the level of the game back home has improved tremendously, said Ammar.Ammar, who is a level three FIVB instructor, said the Namibia Volleyball Federation (NVF) should give more coaching courses and establish a coaches’ commission to certify and sanction new coaches to improve the level of coaching in the country.”The federation (NVF) should not send or upgrade coaches to higher levels if they do not show commitment or if they are not productive,” Ammar said.He would also like to see more beach volleyball competitions in different age groups as well as the establishment of mini-volleyball for players between nine and 14 years.He said clear leadership was also important for the growth of the game, adding that it was time for more sports management programmes in Namibia.Although he was impressed with the turnout of 30 participants, he expected to see more women than the six who took part in the course.The participants came from many regions in Namibia almost all are from the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) or the Namibian Police.Ammar urged for more civilians, especially teachers, to take part in similar courses so that they could teach others.”While a small number of the participants did not have prior knowledge of the game, which in fact is essential to become coaches, their interest to become coaches was heartening,” he said.Apart from the course content, which included the rules of the game, technical, tactical, physical and skills training, the participants also requested a lecture on development plans, how to deal with the media as well as how to get sponsorships.Ammar was more than happy to give the extra courses and also brought in a medical expert.Ammar, together with fellow lecturer Frederic Trouve, also attended training sessions at four Windhoek-based clubs.The participants had a practical test and a written examination.One of the participants, Gershon Rorich, travelled from South Africa to attend the course.Rorich is a South African national team player, is the coach of the University of Johannesburg and runs his own volleyball academy in Johannesburg.Although he is a Level One coach already, he felt it necessary to attend the course to learn different techniques to introduce volleyball to younger players.Another participant, Weshitile Nekoto from the NDF, said he attended the course for the technical expertise and to learn how to handle players.Nekoto is the coach for the Windhoek High School (WHS) boys’ team but also felt he needed the course to improve his knowledge of the game and team formation.He was looking at introducing mini-volleyball at primary schools to get children interested in the game at an early age.- NampaAmmar said the level of volleyball in Namibia would improve if players played in other countries where the game was played on a more professional level.Many of the players in his home country Egypt play in Italy, France and the United States and the level of the game back home has improved tremendously, said Ammar.Ammar, who is a level three FIVB instructor, said the Namibia Volleyball Federation (NVF) should give more coaching courses and establish a coaches’ commission to certify and sanction new coaches to improve the level of coaching in the country.”The federation (NVF) should not send or upgrade coaches to higher levels if they do not show commitment or if they are not productive,” Ammar said.He would also like to see more beach volleyball competitions in different age groups as well as the establishment of mini-volleyball for players between nine and 14 years.He said clear leadership was also important for the growth of the game, adding that it was time for more sports management programmes in Namibia.Although he was impressed with the turnout of 30 participants, he expected to see more women than the six who took part in the course.The participants came from many regions in Namibia almost all are from the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) or the Namibian Police.Ammar urged for more civilians, especially teachers, to take part in similar courses so that they could teach others.”While a small number of the participants did not have prior knowledge of the game, which in fact is essential to become coaches, their interest to become coaches was heartening,” he said.Apart from the course content, which included the rules of the game, technical, tactical, physical and skills training, the participants also requested a lecture on development plans, how to deal with the media as well as how to get sponsorships.Ammar was more than happy to give the extra courses and also brought in a medical expert.Ammar, together with fellow lecturer Frederic Trouve, also attended training sessions at four Windhoek-based clubs.The participants had a practical test and a written examination.One of the participants, Gershon Rorich, travelled from South Africa to attend the course.Rorich is a South African national team player, is the coach of the University of Johannesburg and runs his own volleyball academy in Johannesburg.Although he is a Level One coach already, he felt it necessary to attend the course to learn different techniques to introduce volleyball to younger players.Another participant, Weshitile Nekoto from the NDF, said he attended the course for the technical expertise and to learn how to handle players.Nekoto is the coach for the Windhoek High School (WHS) boys’ team but also felt he needed the course to improve his knowledge of the game and team formation.He was looking at introducing mini-volleyball at primary schools to get children interested in the game at an early age.- Nampa
