The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AS he continues to make his way in his career as the country’s first professional volleyball player, Byron Ferguson has his sights set on bringing greater awareness to a path to the pro ranks for Bahamians.

Ferguson recently completed his fourth pro season, and his first with Jakarta Pertamina Energi of the Indonesian Pro League.

With his third franchise in four years, Ferguson discussed the path his career has taken thus far.

“The toughest competition, it has been Europe for sure. Volleyball is almost the equivalent to soccer on that side of the world. Everyone wants to go to certain countries in Europe were it’s played at the highest level like Poland, Russia, Italy, but just like in soccer you don’t make the most money in those countries,” he said.

“Realistically, being a professional athlete, it’s all about the money, so you have to go where there’s the best fit for you. At minimum each weekend we play in front of 15,000 people so it is an intense environment but it’s something you get used to after playing for a number of years.”

Ferguson was contacted just before he graduated from Lindenwood University about becoming a pro player and he took the offer to play in Denmark.

He spent the last two seasons with Pielaveden Sampo of the Finland Volleyball League, the highest level of volleyball in the country, with 12 franchises in the league.

During his offseason this spring, Ferguson has represented the Bahamas on the beach volleyball scene and aimed toward giving greater exposure of the game played at a high level with the Scotiabank Defenders “Defend Ya Spike” Tournament.

“This was the fifth one, it was the most successful one as far as support. One of the major points of the tournament is to bring in more international players for the public to see volleyball played at a high level so maybe we can get young people more involved, get the government more involved and sponsors more involved. It’s not difficult getting people down here, it’s not difficult to get people to come down here to the Bahamas and we should take advantage of it,” he said.

He also added that he looks toward a greater emphasis placed on the development of beach volleyball.

“We have the facilities, so why are we not better. The last Olympics we had a team of four one round away from qualifying. So we are pretty good at beach but we are the only four that play, and we need more. We are also four of the key players on the indoor court. Most other federations have players specifically designated to one or the other,” he said.

“It’s a whole different game than indoor volleyball, the ball-handling is different, jumping in the sand is a bit different as well, but we have the opportunities to become better in the game we just have to attract younger players to the gave and it has to be developed from the administrative level.”

At 26, he still has a number of goals to reach in his professional career but still has one major sign of recognition at home he is still hoping to achieve.

“My whole goal in going pro was that I always wanted my picture on that wall of fame as you walk through the airport. There’s no reason I shouldn’t be there right now,” he said. “Everyone on that wall was the first to do something. I’m the first Bahamian volleyball player.”