THE EXAMPLE OF MALI

Who are you Mr Makan Diarra?

My name is M Diarra Makan, 50 year old Malian International Volleyball player in the 80s, studied economics and I am now Chairman of the AMDVB, Malian Association for Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Development.

What is the history of Volleyball in Mali?

The history of Malian Volleyball is dotted with highs and lows, the best years, with no risk of being mislead, lie between the periods 1970 -1986. Today, Mali has about 6000 Volleyball players for about 3000 courts out of which only a 5th is fitted.
These courts are located within the premises of schools and should be maintained in good condition but because of a lack in resources it is very difficult to keep them in good condition.
It is for this reason that the AMDVB wants to concentrate its actions on negotiations with schools and authorities in order to establish and maintain sports facilities and to have them used by the National Association of Mali.

Tell us about the AMDVB?
The AMDVB Association has been existing for less than a year. Since the meeting in Johannesburg in February 2007, we felt that changes must be made to develop Volleyball in all its forms in the countries of the African continent.

What are the prospects for the AMDVB?
The battle is very difficult, given that our country since its independence is affiliated to the FIVB whose legal texts exclude any possibility of membership in other sports organizations who develop the same disciplines.
Nevertheless, by working with schools and creating Sports Associations, we have circumvented these legal barriers. The hope is permissible because the future belongs to the youth and schools which are the best nursery for our sport.

Since your accession to the WVBF, what did change?
Since our accession to the WVBF, we understood that it is possible to develop Volleyball in underprivileged countries. We also know that the WVBF leaders have the desire to help us unlike those of the FIVB have done nothing for us for decades. We know personally the WVBF leaders’ ethics and seriousness and we know that they have already supported us concretely and that they are willing to repeat in the future their actions. We hope that their work, professional actions and faith will continue and increase in the long term.

What is your view on Volleyball in Africa?
Volleyball in Africa is long overdue especially for countries south of the Sahara because of the political bias introduced by the senior officers of the FIVB who have penalized poor countries by denying them the right to enjoy the property facts of this discipline.

What do you like to be improved?
According to my aspirations, I would like to see very quickly:
A) The IOC official recognition of WVBF who fully respects the Olympic Charter so that we can facilitate our work with respect to our authorities.
B) That the WVBF foresees a tour in our respective countries with a view to establishing contacts with the International sports bodies which will enhance our credibility. Consequently, we can have the adequate support to equip a maximum of infrastructure for Volleyball.

What are your hobbies?
As a former Volleyball player, I can only promote this discipline that I admire.

Do you have a particular message?
My message is to stand firm despite of the difficulties, obstacles and disappointments. Success is at the end of the effort. Compared to us, we have to be patient because we can not change overnight. However, our goal is one day to be able to reverse the actual trend so that our countries are considered as major Volleyball Nations by the WVBF.

Interview made by Alain DENGUESSI