 Marc-Anthony Honore becomes the first Trinidadian volleyball player to go pro by signing with VfB Friedrichshafen of the 1st Bundesliga in Germany and winner of the 2007 European Champions League. From Newsday:
Honore to play pro-volleyball
IT’S OFF to Germany for local volleyball star Marc-Anthony Honore. The talented national player recently signed a professional contract with German volleyball club Friedrichshafen, reportedly the number one club in Europe.
After an exceptional college career Honore is hoping to move on to the next level in the sport.
By signing the contract he has become the first Trinidadian player to go professional in volleyball. Four years ago he was the first local male player to earn a volleyball scholarship to the United States.
His achievements on and off the courts have also earned him several national awards among college players.
In fact, Honore re-wrote the record books at college, claiming all but one of the categories. His performances drew the attention of several clubs across Europe, from Italy, Spain, Portugal and Germany.
But it was with Friedrichshafen that he decided to sign as a middle hitter/blocker for the 2007/2008 season.
It’s just another step, rather a leap for the 6’ 7” talented player who has been dubbed ‘‘inhuman” by his opponents, “grasshopper” by his former teammates at St Francis University, Pennsylvania.
His coach, Michael Rumbaugh described his play as “hang bang.” They are all descriptive of Honore’s ability to achieve a 12’ vertical reach while delivering powerful spikes or using his 7’ span to block the attacks of the opposing team.
The lucrative contract includes a car, a furnished apartment plus other perks accorded to top professionals in the European League.
As a rookie Honore expects to see some playing time with teammates from several national teams. They include players from Brazil, Portugal, Venezuela and several European countries.
For the 23-year-old former vice-captain of the Starlings Volleyball Club the professional game seemed to be always in the cards.
“I’m really looking forward to playing at the next level. It’s really a dream come true.’ said Honore. ‘It’s an opportunity to start my pro-career with one of the top club teams in the world. “That’s amazing. Above all, I consider it a great opportunity to grow in the sport and a step forward for volleyball in Trinidad and Tobago,’ he said.
Honore, a Naparima College graduate, continues the outstanding performance of southern athletes. He represented the country as a senior player while still in the junior age category. Honore currently serves as vice- captain of the national men’s team. Last year, he was nominated for the national sports person award, after his exceptional year at college and on the national team.
He was named the Best Attacker in the Caribbean in 2006 as well as earning two National Player of Week Awards and the Eastern Conference Player of the Year Award in the United States.
Honore graduated with an honours degree in Business Marketing and is set to take up his position as a middle-hitter with the German club from August 4.
Preceding the start of his professional career, he will join his sister Nadiege Honore, a NCAA top 50 finalist, as a camp coach at the World Volleyball Training Centre in New York.
Honore is a Level 1 FIVB volleyball coach while Nadiege is having her second stint at the camp. They will join international coaches and other professional players at the camp. Meanwhile, Honore has been hard in training with the national men’s team. National men’s coach Gideon Dickson stated that Honore is an exceptional talented, disciplined professional.
“He is a player that is a coach’s dream to work with. And there is so much potential in him. So much for him to achieve. I really believe that he can change the landscape of the sport both regionally and internationally,” Dickson said.
‘He has the physical and mental attributes to redefine volleyball. He is so versatile,” the coach said.
At the recently held Pan American Championships in Santo Domingo, Honore emerged as one of the top ten players in the tournament, and earned top 5 honours in hitting, blocking and serving.
Honore comes from a sporting family. His sisters Nadiege and Solange have represented the country in volleyball and earned full scholarships to schools in the United States. His youngest sister Shanice, has branched off to earn a place on the national badminton team.
So, its on to the European League for a son of the soil. The tournament begins in mid August with matches scheduled all across Europe.
It will be another challenge that the talented player is keen to accept. Like his counterparts in football and other sports Honore has seized the opportunities before him and is well on the way to mastering his chosen discipline. Next stop, Germany.
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