Mottense leads the National team of the Oceania archipelago. Prohibitive weather conditions, matches between opponents forbidden
/ TREVISO
The three days that could change the sporting history of Vanuatu and Federica Tonon have begun. The first of the three steps to climb to reach the Olympic dream is called Japan. The Pacific archipelago women’s beach volleyball team, coached by Motta di Livenza’s coach, will now play for the Olympic qualification in the Continental Cup in Thailand. There is only one place up for grabs, which will go to one of Thailand, Indonesia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Kazakhstan and Vanuatu. The most formidable opponents are probably China and Australia, which won the Continental Cup last year.
But the girls led by Federica Tonon have already shown in the first phase of the Asian championship, played and won more than a year ago, that they have no awe and can play with everyone. The tournament formula provides for a double challenge between nations, between the two teams that each country has brought to the Continental Cup. In the event of a tie, a golden match will be played that will give the passage of the round. Vanuatu 1, made up of Miller Pata and Sherysyn Toko, will challenge Japan 1, followed by Vanuatu 2 (Loti Joe and Majabelle Lewac) against the second team of the rising sun. After half an hour back on the pitch, in case of a tie.
The weather and environmental conditions are prohibitive. On the fields set up near Bangkok, it is 38 degrees, but due to the humidity they feel even more. Players and staff live in a bubble, where the rules are very strict. You eat in your room and your meal is delivered daily in a chair that is left outside the door. Above the meal, underneath the garbage or dirty linen must be left, strictly sealed inside personalized bags. You can eat only in the room, and all the outings are booked through an App. Outings which, however, can only be for the swimming pool or training. Any mixing between opposing teams up to the match is prohibited. Very strict measures, which however did not prevent a positive Indonesian referee from arriving in Thailand after traveling with the national team at Covid. Fortunately, the swabs of those who have been in contact with him, including the Vanuatu national team, were negative.
Federica Tonon and the girls from Vanuatu in recent months have not missed anything, from training suspended for a case of covid when they were on the island of Tanna (Vanuatu), to the difficulties in getting out of the country. A very long journey, which saw them leave in early June to Aukland, Dubai and then Indonesia, where they observed five days of quarantine, training only in their hotel rooms. Then a few days in Bali, and finally the trip to Thailand. But now there are no more excuses, we take the field to fulfill a dream. –