Bari, Italy, September 14, 2018 – Cameroon qualified for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2018 after finishing third in the last edition of the African Championship, where they won bronze as Tunisia and Egypt claimed the top two spots of the podium. Interestingly enough, Cameroon and Tunisia opened the programme of Pool C at PalaFlorio in Bari with an African derby that the ‘Lions’ claimed in three sets, much to the delight of a number of partisan African fans in attendance.
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Yvan Kody, one of Cameroon’s opposite hitters, knows Bari and PalaFlorio very well. The man standing 213 cm tall spent the last season with the team of Piacenza in the highest division of the Italian national league – the first Cameroonian player to achieve this feat. His personal story is a truly inspiring one, knowing the many difficulties and constraints that young athletes from Africa have to deal with as they try to pursue a career in sports.
Kody has a degree in medicine from the University of Douala and a huge passion for music. On top of this, he has remarkable physical and technical skills, which helped him transition from basketball to volleyball and make it all the way to the Italian Superleague.
He is a key asset of the Cameroonian team that is competing at the World Championship for the third straight edition. Kody had a big dream: “I always dreamed of playing in Italy and I was able to do so four years ago when I moved to Reggio Emilia. I played in the second division for three years and spent the last season in Piacenza. The Superleague boasts a very different quality and level than A2. I will move to Qatar for the 2018-2019 season but I hope that one day I will come back to Italy and play in the Italian league again,” Kody says.
Kody has had a busy life with volleyball and his studies – he graduated in medicine back in 2014. Music plays a key role in his life as well as fans can see from his official Facebook profile. “Music for me is an important hobby; I play the piano and take singing lessons. My degree in medicine is something I want to capitalise on in future, especially since I would like to pursue a career in sports medicine here in Italy,” he continues.
Italy is like a second home to him. “Since my childhood I always dreamed of coming to Italy and did not hesitate a second made many sacrifices in my life, because studying medicine while pursuing a career in sports is not easy at all. However, I have always kept my focus on my goals and never stopped dreaming – as all those wearing the Cameroonian shirt have done. We are proud to represent our country and want people to know Cameroon better, and we are hopefully opening the door for the next generation to grow and have more opportunities.”