“The eight-days of non stop excitement with bigger line-up of eight hand-picked top teams from the country will serve as one rare opportunity to volleyball lovers to witness action of the highest order,” said Aristo D’Souza, a former volleyball player and general secretary of Cuncolim Union Club which had helped in reviving the sport after launching the tournament last year.
The purpose-built arena next to the Cuncolim football grounds had witnessed a memorable duel between ONGC Dehradun and BPCL Kerala in the first edition of the championship in 2014.
A 3000 strong spectator turnout at the last year’s final was a befitting testimony that volleyball is still dear to many. The week long volleyball fest boasts of teams like ONGC, Kerala Police, HSIDC, RCF, Indian Bank, Western Railway, Haryana Police and hosts Cuncolim Union with the best of the Goan players.
In action will be senior international players like Sayeekrishnan and Manoharan who are regulars for India. These six foot-plus strikers are dreaded for their cross-court smashes. Another player of extraordinary calibre is the setter D Yognathan. He is the heartbeat of a volleyball team; constantly plotting through quick and judicious second passes.
Elvis Gomes, president of GFA and chairman of Cuncolim Union said that in the coming years, the championship could turn out to be a prestigious cup at the National level.
