High-profile Albanian delegation pays visit to home of European Volleyball

A delegation including the President of the National Olympic Committee of Albania, Mr Fidel Ylli, and President of the Albanian Volleyball Federation (FSHV), Mr Erlind Pëllumbi, visited the home of European Volleyball in Luxembourg to present and discuss the strategic plan devised by the FSHV for the period 2022-2028.

Volleyball has a long and rich history in the Balkan country, which goes as far back as to the 40s and 50s, and teams from Albania have managed to claim an impressive number of medals from multiple Balkan Championships, with a major highlight coming in 1987, when the women’s national team won gold at the Mediterranean Games held in Latakia, Syria.

With such an important heritage to preserve, the FSHV’s primary goal is to engage the younger generations and make sure that as many as possible play and enjoy the game, with fair play, transparency, and sustainability at the core of all activities designed to grow the sport nationwide. The goal, between now and 2028, is – among other things – to increase the number of registered Volleyball players from 1,360 to 2,100 – while growing the figures for qualified coaches, national and international referees, clubs, as well as the followers of the Federation’s social media accounts.

The CEV School Project ‘Play Volleyball – Grow with it’ shall play a leading role, especially when it comes to increasing participation and talent identification. Volleyball festivals, school competitions, and the appointment of project managers / experts shall help achieve the strategic goals and lead to the establishment of hundreds of teams involving pupils and teenagers.

Following the meeting held at the home of European Volleyball on Monday, the CEV will be providing access to educational material for coaches and teachers selected by the FSHV. Moreover, the CEV will support the organisation of a workshop in Albania designed specifically for teachers and coaches, which will be held by the end of the current school year, also run in conjunction with the CEV School Project.

Other strategic goals pursued by the FSHV include the extension of the ‘Club Albania’ project to at least three regions to feed the U16 / U17 national teams, an increase in the number of teams involved in the amateur league, a capacity building programme to promote Volleyball in schools, and a communication programme that will help draw attention and raise awareness about Volleyball across the country. To fulfil such ambitious goals, Albania’s Volleyball family will be trying to mobilise further and much-needed financial resources, working closely with national and international institutional partners and potential sponsors.