Morocco's Hajij elected new CAVB president

After 19 years at the helm of Confederation of Africa Volleyball (CAVB), Egyptian Dr Amr Elwani has lost his grip on the throne following the election of Moroccan Bouchra Hajij as the first female president in the organisation's history.

Hajij won by a landslide taking home 42 votes while incumbent Elwani who has served as president since 2001 collected only 12 votes indicating the tide in the electorate had really changed.

The volleyball administrator who is currently serving as the president of the Royal Moroccan Volleyball Federation, FIVB vice president of the executive committee and CAVB member of the executive committee and the board of directors will lead the organisation for four years.

"I cannot say I have anything exciting to say about the new leadership but I'm open to seeing what they will bring to the table," Uganda Volleyball Federation president Hadija Namanda said.

"I have my reservations about my choice of candidate because I was in a camp that did not win but to me if we can look at the key challenges that African nation's face. We have issues regarding equipment and competitions," Namanda added.

She admitted that she raised those issues with both candidates and she hopes either way that whoever took it was able to raise what is pertinent about the growth of this sport.

Namanda also lost in her quest to join the CAVB board.

"I thank God that I was able to contest in the CAVB election for the gender in a minority position. My take-home is that I personally gave it my best shot I know that I have the potential to be able to voice my concerns about the development of the sports in Uganda and lobby towards the development of Volleyball in Uganda," she admitted.

Regardless of her unsuccessful bid, she vows to continue fighting for women.

"Part of my role would have been to raise the number of women that are participating in volleyball from playing to administration and areas like refereeing and coaching. Now that I didn't go through that will not stop her from pursuing those objectives," Namanda added.