With important assignments like the FIVB World League and Asia Cup just round the corner, Roberto Piazza is the right man to take the country forward, said Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) President Khalid Ali Al Mawlawi.
“We’re proud to have signed up well-known coach Roberto (Piazza). We’ll be working with him for the development of national team. Our first important event is the 2016 World League, where we’re making our debut, and I think Roberto, with his wealth of experience, can give us the right direction,” said Al Mawlawi after the signing ceremony at the QVA headquarters.
Qatar have showed marked improvement in recent years, especially under last coach Juan Manuel Cichello. The Argentinian guided them to sixth at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and their best finish of fourth place at the Asian Championship in Tehran in 2015.
Al Mawlawi thinks the onus is on Piazza to carry forward the good work produced by Cichello.
“There’s always room for improvement. We do have targets for Roberto and I think the goals are both achievable and practical. In the World League, we want to be strong and tough competitors, and not pushovers. But at the Asia Cup, we’re definitely eyeing a podium finish and I think it’s well within our reach. We also have the Arab Championship coming up in Jordan later in the year,” Al Mawlawi added.