CAVB President Dr Amr Elwani received the FIVB Grand Cross from FIVB President Dr Ary Graca in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the African and World volleyball during his 17 year involvement in FIVB work since 1998.
Graca honoured Elwani with the golden collar which is considered the highest FIVB decoration offered by the volleyball governing body against a wide reaction from the attending delegates.
Ary Graca honouring Dr Elwani with the FIVB Grand Cross
CAVB President received the collar with a great hug to the FIVB President and big applauds form the African counties.
Early on Friday, Elwani was re-elected as CAVB President after democratic elections against 2 other candidates; Idriss Dokony form Chad and David Kabre from Burkina Faso.
The 15th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship will formally serve off on Monday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, with no fewer than 20 matches on the card in the Men and Women singles main draw.
As hosts, Nigeria, understandably was given the privilege of having the largest number of Wild Card slots as no fewer than eight of the country’s players move into the main draw due to the fact that precious few of its players are in the ATP and WTA rankings.
Leading the nation’s quest for glory in the $80,000 prize-money tournament is Moses Micheal, the reigning champion, who took advantage of the abridged version held last year due to the Ebola virus scourge which restricted participating players to Africa.
The Trophy Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship photo credit; governorscuplagostennis.com
Micheal is the highest-ranked Nigerian player in the ATP and after helping Tombim to win the NCC Team Tennis title on Saturday, he is expected to have his hands full as players from Europe, Asia and The Americas will all be featuring this time around.
Another player that will be on the spotlight is Melissa Ifidzhen, the Russian-Nigerian player who has been making waves both home and abroad.
The 18-year-old took Nigerian tennis by storm by winning this year’s Central Bank of Nigerian Open women’s singles, Women’s double and the mixed double titles.
The former Russian junior champion also comes into the championship in good form as she ended up as women’s doubles finalist at the ITF Circuit in Egypt two weeks ago. She has also won two women singles titles in Russia prior to her remarkable display in Egypt.
“I’m hoping for another memorable experience in Nigeria. The first time I played here was very successful and I’m looking forward to a good tournament. Hopefully, I will get my first WTA singles points right here in Nigeria,” she said after a training session on Saturday.
Melissa Ifidzhen,
Meanwhile, the LOC has urged tennis fans to turn out en masse and fill the stands stating that the Governor’s Cup is gradually becoming synonymous with renowned international tournaments in tennis.
Tournament Coordinator, Prince ‘Wale Oladunjoye, pointed that the next generation of world stars will be coming from the tournament; a fact he highlighted with India’s Sania Mirza, the 2004 champion, who is the current Wimbledon and US Open doubles title holder.
Bosnia and Herzegovina player, Aldin Setkic is the highest ranked star in this year’s tournament. He is ranked number 231, while French player, Sherazad Reix is leading the female player. She is ranked number 247 in the world.
Players from more than 50 countries will be taking part in the double-phase fortnight-long tournament.
Following the election of Dr Amr Elwani African Volleyball Confederation “CAVB” President, the Congress cast their votes to elect the CAVB Executive Committee, Board of Administration and the African representatives to the FIVB Board.
For the executive committee the six Vice presidents were elected beside the 2 gender minority. The 6 vice presidents are Mr. Mory Keita (Guinea Conakry) who was chosen thereafter as the first vice- President, Mr. Mounir Ben Slimane (Tunisia), Mr. Badr Zoudi Issouf (Niger), Mr. Jean Mopita (Congo Brazzaville), Mr. Waithaka Kioni (Kenya) and Dr. William Nhlapo (Lesotho).
The 2 elected gender minority are Mrs. Nah Aminata Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire) and Mrs. Bouchra Hajij (Morocco).
The CAVB representatives to the FIVB Board are Eng. Habu Gumel (Nigeria), Mr. Louis Timba (Cameroon), and Mr. Houkba Gougam (Algeria).
Early Dr Amr Elwani was elected CAVB president after a highly democratic elections
CAVB Executive Committee
Dr. Amr Elwani (Egypt)- President
Mr. Mory Keita (Guinea Conakry)- first vice President
Mr. Mounir Ben Slimane (Tunisia)- vice president
Mr. Badr Zoudi Issouf (Niger)- vice president
Mr. Jean Mopita (Congo Brazzaville)- vice president
Mr. Waithaka Kioni (Kenya)- vice president
Dr. William Nhlapo (Lesotho)- vice president
Mrs. Nah Aminata Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire)- Gender minority
Mrs. Bouchra Hajij (Morocco)- Gender minority
Dr Elwani Honoured by FIVB President Dr Graca
CAVB Board of Administration
Dr. Amr Elwani (Egypt)- President
Mr. Mory Keita (Guinea Conakry)- first vice President
Mr. Mounir Ben Slimane (Tunisia)- vice president
Mr. Badr Zoudi Issouf (Niger)- vice president
Mr. Jean Mopita (Congo Brazzaville)- vice president
Mr. Waithaka Kioni (Kenya)- vice president
Dr. William Nhlapo (Lesotho)- vice president
Mrs. Nah Aminata Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire)- Gender minority
Mrs. Bouchra Hajij (Morocco)- Gender minority
Eng. Habu Gumel (Nigeria)- FIVB Board
Mr. Louis Timba (Cameroon)- FIVB Board
Mr. Houkba Gougam (Algeria)- FIVB Board
Adnan Bekbak (Libya)- Zone I President
Antonio Carlos Rodrigues (Cape Verde)- Zone II President
Sanga Kone (Cote d’Ivoire)- Zone III President
Frédéric Ndounda (Gabon)- Zone IV President
Louis Rwakiranya (Burundi)- Zone V President
Fredreck Ndlovu (Zimbabwe)- Zone VI President
Kaysee Teeroovengadum (Mauritius)- Zone VII President
(Commission Presidents will be added upon their nomination)
The semi-finals of the Rio 2016 test event offered a mouthwatering taste of what is to come at next August’s Olympic Games, with some of the world’s best boxers lighting up RioCentro’s Pavilion 4 in Barra da Tijuca.
There was plenty for the home fans to cheer as Brazil’s rising star Robson Conceição won a tight match against Britain’s Luke McCormack, setting up a final against Uzbek lightweight Hurshid Tojibaev. Fellow Brazilian Joedison Teixeira also progressed after seeing off the challenge of Thailand’s Wuttichai Masuk, and he will now face Britain’s Sam Maxwell in Sunday’s light welterweight final.
Brazil’s former AMBC American Confederation Champion Juliao Henriques Neto also rose to the occasion, defeating Morocco’s Achraf Kharroubi in their flyweight semi-final. Japan’s newly crowned National Champion Ryomei Tanaka now stands between him and the gold medal, while in the bantamweight semi, Thailand’s AIBA Worlds bronze medalist Chatchai Butdee went through by beating Japan’s 19-year-old Arashi Morisaka.
Uzbekistan’s WSB star Hasanboy Dusmatov defeated Shyam Kumar Kakara in their light flyweight semi-final and will now meet Brazil’s latest APB hope Patrick Lourenco.
“The Rio test event is very competitive but after my WSB season and main AIBA Boxing events I feel I can win the gold medal here in Brazil. It is great that our International Federation has staged this competition in Rio and to be able to acclimatise for next year’s competition,” said Dusmatov.
Doha 2015 finalist Murodjon Akhmadaliev had to be in top form to see off Carlos Andre Rocha, and Morocco’s defending AIBA World Champion Mohammed Rabii just did enough to scrape through against Mexico’s Juan Pablo Romero.
Netherlands’ EUBC silver medalist Peter Mullenberg’s stamina and spirit saw him through a tough encounter with crowd favourite Michel Borges to reach the light heavyweight final where he will face Britain’s Joshua Buatsi.
“It was a really close fight today against the young Brazilian boxer and I probably fought too much from my heart, but I knew I had to work hard to beat Borges in his home ring,” said Mullenberg after his semi-final.
Germany’s APB star Erik Pfeifer eliminated Brazilian veteran Rafael Duarte Lima in their super heavyweight semi, and he will be confident going in to a tough final against another Brit, Frazer Clarke.
In the women’s competition, India’s five-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Mary Kom couldn’t overcome a spirited Virginia Fuchs. The American now goes on to face Great Britain’s AIBA Worlds silver medalist Lisa Whiteside after she defeated Brazil’s Grazieli Jesus De Souza in Saturday’s second flyweight semi-final.
Chantelle Cameron was too strong for another home favourite, three-time AMBC American Confederation Women’s Champion Taynna Cardoso, and will meet French rival Estelle Mossely in the lightweight final. Brazil’s Flavia Figueiredo found success against Australia’s 2014 Youth Olympic Games bronze medalist Caitlin Parker, however, and she faces Khadija Mardi in Sunday’s hotly anticipated middleweight gold-medal match.
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