WITH days to go before the August 8-15 Caribbean Volleyball Championships (CAZOVA) in Paramaribo, Suriname, head coach of Jamaica’s men’s volleyball team Steve Davis sees “efficiency” as the way to reach the top.

However Davis, a lecturer and coach at GC Foster College, noted that “even before going to this championship these players are making their country proud due to the fact that they have remained committed to the team and trained under trying circumstances”.

Six newcomers will share the stage with six veterans.

“We are making an extra effort to be a team as much as possible and not just a bunch of individuals,” added Davis, who was assistant coach at the 2006 Caribbean Championship in the Bahamas.

Newcomers DJ Nelson, Shavoy Irvin, Robert Andrews, Shane Dwyer, Alwayne Easy and Enrique Williams will lend support to the experience of Delford Morgan (captain), Dellan Brown, Conarado Taylor, Dr Ricardo Chung, Richard Reynolds and Namarie Gordon.

“If the players can do the simple things correctly and remain efficient throughout the tournament, then our chances are as good as any other team.

“They are constantly reminded that man for man they are as good as anyone else, but just need to play as a team and support each other throughout the competition,” Davis pointed out.

Like the women, eight teams will take part in the championship, namely the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Netherlands Antilles, St Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica.

Barbados, ranked ninth in the world, are top seeds at the tournament ahead of Trinidad & Tobago (10th), Jamaica (12th), St Kitts & Nevis (13th), Netherlands Antilles (15th), Dominica (18th) and the Bahamas (22nd).

Some US$28,000 is needed to send both teams to the Caribbean Championships and they were to be immunised Tuesday against yellow fever and malaria, said Davis.