By: Pa Barrow
African beach volleyball champions, Mbaye Babou Jarra and Sainey Jawo of The Gambia could not progress from the group stages of the 2022 edition of the FIVB world beach volleyball championship currently underway in the Italian capital, Rome.
The Gambian duo was drawn into the group (A) alongside the host Italy and South American giants Brazil and Argentina, forming what many described as the most difficult group in this year’s championship.
Bai Dodou Jallow, president of The Gambia Volleyball Federation illustrated the championship as a success for the country “even though we could not progress from the group.”
“I felt very happy because its is not about the scores for us but about the level we are considering the little support we received compared to our opponent,” he said.
He added “it has been a long journey but our athletes are now competing with the world’s best athletes which is a positive feeling.
“Our athletes put up a respectable performance throughout the competition and if they receive the support they deserve we will reach another level,” he further noted, saying the future is very bright for Gambian beach volleyball.
Jallow believes the achievement will motivate young volleyball players in the country to play and get involved in the sport.
Mbaye Babou Jarra and Sainey Jawo will go down in the history of The Gambia as the first ever players to participate in the highest level of beach volleyball competition at the global championships.
