AVC Central Zone Volleyball Championship postponed
18 ފެބުރުއަރީ 2020 | އަންގާރަ 13:00Central Zone Men’s Volleyball Championship was scheduled for March 22nd to 28th
The national men\'s volleyball team at the South Asian Games
The upcoming Central Zone Men’s Volleyball Championship, scheduled for March 22nd to 28th, has been postponed.
On Monday, the Bangladesh Volleyball Federation informed the Volleyball Association of Maldives (VAM) that the tournament, set to be held in the fellow South Asian nation, has been postponed. The tournament will now be held from September 4th-11th, revealed President of VAM Mohamed Latheef.
In an email sent to all eight countries participating the competition, the President of the Bangladesh Volleyball Federation explained that the tournament was postponed in order to attend to prior and urgent commitments to the Bangladeshi government.
VAM President, Latheef stated that the delay is to the country's advantage as it allows the Maldives team to undergo more training.
Despite the tournament being delayed, VAM revealed that the Men's and Women's Volley team is set to train for the competition in Europe.
Last year, the national men's volley team attended a training camp in Serbia after Minister of Youth and Sports, Ahmed Mahloof, made the arrangements during an official trip to the southeastern European nation.
Although an interim-committee has been established to replace VAM's president, Mohamed Latheef, all communications regarding international tournaments is directed to Latheef - who has been suspended from his position.
Despite the suspension, VAM's president and Executive Committee have been conducting the association's activities for the past nine months,thus, violating the rules set by Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). A decision by FIVB regarding the matter is expected to be announced soon.
As such, Latheef revealed that a complaint against him has been very recently submitted to the Maldives Olympic Committee by former coach for the national volley team and member of the interim-committee, Mohamed Saajid (Bodu Kaattey). The complaint accuses Latheef of preventing the country's participation in international competitions and hindering opportunities for players.
Latheef defended himself stating that the association's EXCO would not do anything against the national team's best interests.
