By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia,net

THE Bahamas Volleyball Federation men’s national team, still basking in their success as the champions of the Caribbean Volleyball Championships in the US Virgin Islands earlier this year, are in desperate need of about $7,000 to travel to the first round of the 2014 World Qualifying Tournament.

The Bahamas, representing the Caribbean as the No.1 ranked team, is scheduled to leave for the first round in Curacoa on November 30 and return on December 23 where they will need to finish in the top two in order to advance to the second round next year.

According to BVF first vice president Joseph ‘Joe Mo’ Smith, NORCECA has the Bahamas ranked as the favourite to win the tournament and although their expectations are high, it would be a major disappointment if they can’t secure the necessary funding to take the team to Curacao.

“We have some in so far, but we need the rest to make this trip possible,” Smith said.

“The difficulty is that we didn’t get anything from the government, so we are in the public trying to see if we can get one or two sponsors to come on board to help us out. That’s the only thing we can do.

“We can’t let greatness fall apart like that. We just won a gold medal and here it is we are having problems trying to send a team off. It’s just sad. From we won the gold medal, I haven’t heard from the Ministry of Sports yet. It’s ridiculous. But they still want you to go out there and win the gold medal. It’s rough.”

The team, coached by Raymond Wilson and DeVince Smith, are basically the same that won the CVC title.

Since winning the title, both Prince Wilson and Byron Ferguson have been playing on the professional circuit in Europe.

Wilson is scheduled to return home from Holland via London on Friday to work out with the team. However, Ferguson will travel from Helsinki and meet the team in Curacao.

The only other player to return home is Rommel Lightbourne, who is currently residing in North Carolina.

“The team is a little stronger because Shedric Forbes didn’t go to the USVI, but he will be here and travel with the team to Curacao,” Smith said.

Wilson, Rolle, Lightbourne and Forbes will be joined by Muller Petit, Ian ‘Wire’ Pinder, Tony Simon, Javari Southard, Dereck Rahming, Renaldo Knowles and Jamal Ferguson.

Jon Isaacs was also expected to be a part of the team, but Smith said he won’t be able to travel because of his commitment to college.

“Our chances are great. We are poised to win the gold. I think we can definitely win the gold,” Smith said.

The Bahamas will be playing in a four-team pool with Jamaica, Martinque and Curacao.

The Bahamas is slated to play Jamaica in their first game on December 1 before meeting Martinique later in the evening.

Then on December 2, the Bahamas is scheduled to close out play against Curacao before they either play in the gold or bronze medal game.

The format for the playoff has third playing fourth and first place meeting second.

Once the Bahamas finishes in the top two, they will advance to the second round in March. The team will then need to advance to the third round in order to qualify for the 2014 World Championships.

The team will continue practicing on Tuesdays and Thursdays before they leave for Curacao.