The African Club Cup of the Indian Ocean is set to take place in Madagascar from November 18 to 24. This competition will feature the champion teams (both women and men) from six countries in the region, including Mayotte, Reunion Island, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles, and the host country, Madagascar.
The tournament serves as preparation for the Zone 7 Women’s Champion Clubs’ Cup that Madagascar is aspiring to host in 2013. The Malagasy Volleyball Federation (FMVB) has submitted an application to the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) to host the African Women’s Champion Clubs Cup in Antananarivo.
Clarisse Randrianilana, president of the FMVB, mentioned that the decision regarding Madagascar’s hosting status for the African Women’s Champion Clubs Cup will be made by the CAVB on November 15. The federation has extended an invitation to the president of the CAVB, Dr. Elwani from Egypt, to visit the existing infrastructure in Madagascar.
During the seven days of the competition, 45 matches will be scheduled, and seven international referees from neighboring islands will officiate. The reigning women’s champion, Stef’Auto from Madagascar, will face tough competition in their group, particularly from Friend’s in Seychelles and Curepipe Starlight in Mauritius.
Interestingly, the men’s title holder, AS Voara, will not be participating, and AS Tiavo, the third Malagasy team, has been called upon to complete the lineup. To encourage attendance, the FMVB will allow students aged 15 and under to enter for free by presenting their correspondence book. The competition promises to be a prestigious regional summit showcasing talent from the Indian Ocean countries.
