With the formalization of the St Ann Volleyball Association (SAVA), the garden parish is set to bear more fruits toward the development of volleyball in Jamaica. SAVA was formally established by the President of the Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA), Rudolph Speid, during a meeting with key stakeholders in the parish on Tuesday June 02, 2015.
SAVA will be lead by Vanie Clarke – President, Richard Johnson – 1st Vice President with responsibility for beach volleyball, Eyon Kean – 2nd Vice President with responsibility for hard court volleyball, Jermaine Gordon – General Secretary and Fabian Sterling – Treasurer.
Speid highlighted the contributions of St Ann in the development of the Primary-level schools competition since their involvement in 2011. “Eyon helped us to get a toe in the door in 2011 when only his school (Steer Town) and St Anns Bay participated. Richard then spearheaded the parish efforts since 2012 and has lead the parish to being the leading parish in terms of participation, with 20 schools in 2014. JaVA is very pleased with your energy and commitment and I am sure that not only will we see growth at the grassroot level but we will also see club, community and even masters league volleyball as a result of the formation of SAVA.”
Clarke, who heads the Physical Education department at Brown’s Town High School, charged is colleagues to be exemplary in their efforts to manage the sport and thereby provide opportunities to (particularly) the children in the parish. He implored the JaVA President to help with the attainment of one of SAVA’s primary short-term objectives – to increase and improve the coaching and officiating competences across St Ann.
