Press release

 Ankara, Turkey, August 16, 2011- Edgar Serole from Botswana and John Odundo from Kenya are the new blood of African referees emerging at the international level as they are both part of the selected official international referees at the 2011 Girls’ Youth World Championship in Turkey making over a historic presence of two referees from their continent at the prestigious FIVB event.

 Serole and Odundo are part of the new outcome of both the international volleyball Federation “FIVB” and the African volleyball confederation “CAVB” strategic plan that aims at the support of the refereeing process all over the continent.

 Among others Serole and Odundo are part of the dramatic improvement of the refereeing quality in Africa that was a great factor to put the agreement of CAVB with CEV regarding the nomination of African and European referees to officiate matches overseas in the other continent. From a total of 70 international referees all over the continent two years ago the number increased to 175 in 2011 making more than double fold during this period.

 Edgar Serole started his refereeing life in 2000 when he attended the first course in Bahrain and he was quickly involved in the African competitions as his first competition was the African Junior Championship in Tunisia in the same year.
 
 “I conducted a lot of matches in Africa and even I was nominated in most of the big continental competitions in the last 10 years,” said Serole.

 The most important competitions he conducted were the last two editions of All Africa Games in Abuja 2003 and Alger 2007. He also conducted three African Nations championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

 “I feel honored now to reach that international level after about 190 international matches at the continental level. I can’t express my feelings to be at that prestigious level for the first time. It is historic moment to me.” added the referee from Botswana.

 “I’m now 42 year- old so I have 13 more years to remain active and continue expanding my knowledge and share it with my colleagues and those with aspirations to follow our steps.”
 
 Edgar is one of five International Referees in his country but he has the honor to be the first of his country to go abroad in FIVB competition.

 John Odundo comes from Kenya which is one of the major volleyball countries in Africa specially at the women’s category being the record holders of the number of titles under their name, but he is the first Kenyan to be upgraded to this stage at the international level.

 “I started my real career in 2002 when I attended a course at the FIVB development center in Khartoum, Sudan, ” remembered Odundo cheerfully.

 “I didn’t imagine that one year later I have become one of the top African referees officiating the Men’s African Nations Championship in Cairo,” he added.

 He officiated after in many continental championships and also the World championship qualifications but the most important was the 2006 World championship qualifications for women in Dakar, Senegal and the 2010 in Tunisia.

 “In my international career I have conducted 120 matches but among these I will not forget the 8 matches I shared to whistle here at the Girls youth World championship in Turkey. I can say this is the best moment in my life to be here among the best referees all over the world and to share the highest experience with them. I feel great privilege to officiate at that level. My 5 children ask me everyday how I performed at that level. I’m living in Kisumu which is a western Kenyan city and I’m sure all my friends there are waiting for positive news from this experience.” He added happily.

 The two African referees are sharing one dream to be one day an official at the Olympic Games. It is a dream for every referee on the earth.