BEN Pipes insists it could take more than a decade for Britain’s men’s volleyball team to be competitive internationally – but with their Olympic debut done he’s adamant they’ll get there.
Beverley’s Pipes and his team-mates brought the curtain down on the British team’s first ever Olympic campaign with a straight sets defeat to Argentina, who progress to the quarter-finals.
Britain end with five successive defeats, in which they failed to win a single set, raising questions whether they should have been awarded a host nation place.
Pipes however is in no doubt that Britain will eventually be on the same level as other Group ‘A’ opponents Bulgaria, Poland, Italy and Australia – adamant regular fixtures are what’s needed.
“The thing that I take is that we have to play these teams more often. It is the first time in five years we have had a chance to play these sort of teams,” said Pipes.
“I think over the week as a whole we have progressed baring maybe this one and I am hoping this is a starting point for us and it is what all of us want.
“Maybe it will take us 15 years to get there but trust me in the volleyball world we have recognised the support and we are so thankful for it.
“We have to take that energy back into a system that will produce higher quality volleyball than ourselves at the minute but we believe we can do it. We need more talent and the taller athletes to get into volleyball.”
• Lloyds TSB, proud supporter of Team GB and proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Get closer to the Games at lloydstsb.com/london2012
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