Togolese Coach Samani Champions Inclusive Sports at Kigali Sitting Volleyball Certification
In the bustling heart of Rwanda’s capital, a quiet revolution in African Paralympic sports is unfolding. From October 30 to November 2, 2025, Kigali plays host to one of the continent’s most significant sporting developments—the practical examination for sitting volleyball certification, organized under the auspices of World ParaVolley. Among the distinguished participants stands Valentin Samani, a Togolese coach whose dedication to inclusive sports has become a beacon of hope for athletes with mobility challenges across West Africa.
The Journey to Kigali: A Testament to Perseverance
Samani’s presence in Kigali represents more than just another coaching certification—it symbolizes the growing recognition of sitting volleyball as a legitimate, competitive sport and the increasing commitment to disability inclusion in Togo’s athletic programs. For years, Samani has worked tirelessly behind the scenes, often with limited resources and recognition, to build a foundation for sitting volleyball in a region where adaptive sports frequently take a backseat to more traditional athletic pursuits.
“What many people don’t realize,” explains Samani in a recent interview, “is that sitting volleyball isn’t just a modified version of standing volleyball—it’s a sport with its own unique strategies, techniques, and athletic demands. The ball moves faster, the court is smaller, and players must develop incredible upper body strength and core stability. It’s a sport that demands as much skill and strategy as its Olympic counterpart.”
Building Bridges Through Sport
Samani’s journey into sitting volleyball coaching began almost by accident. While working with various community sports programs in Lomé, he noticed a significant gap in athletic opportunities for people with physical disabilities. “I saw talented individuals who wanted to compete, who wanted the camaraderie of team sports, but who had limited options,” he recalls. “That realization became a calling.”
His initial efforts involved adapting existing volleyball equipment and facilities, often improvising with limited budgets. Through regular training sessions and community outreach, Samani gradually built a dedicated group of athletes who found in sitting volleyball not just physical activity, but community, purpose, and a renewed sense of capability.
The Kigali Certification: Raising African Standards
The Kigali practical examination represents a crucial step in professionalizing sitting volleyball coaching across Africa. Organized by World ParaVolley, the international governing body for the sport, the intensive program brings together coaching experts from across the continent to strengthen technical, tactical, and pedagogical skills specific to sitting volleyball.
Participants undergo rigorous assessment in multiple areas: athlete classification protocols, game strategy development, adaptive training techniques, and disability-specific coaching methodologies. The certification process ensures that coaches return to their home countries equipped not just with theoretical knowledge, but with practical skills that can immediately benefit their athletes.
Beyond the Court: The Social Impact of Adaptive Sports
What makes Samani’s work particularly significant extends far beyond the volleyball court. In many West African communities, disability still carries significant social stigma. Adaptive sports programs like the one Samani has championed serve as powerful tools for changing perceptions and breaking down barriers.
“When community members see athletes with disabilities competing with skill, determination, and sportsmanship, it challenges their preconceptions about what people with mobility challenges can achieve,” explains Dr. Aminata Coulibaly, a sports sociologist who has studied the impact of Paralympic sports in West Africa. “These athletes become visible, respected members of their communities, and that visibility has ripple effects far beyond sports.”
Samani’s athletes have become ambassadors for disability rights in Togo, demonstrating through their achievements that physical limitations need not define one’s capabilities or contributions to society. Several participants in his program have gone on to become advocates for accessibility and inclusion in their respective communities.
The Technical Nuances of Sitting Volleyball
For the uninitiated, sitting volleyball might appear to be simply volleyball played from a seated position, but the reality is far more complex. The sport demands unique technical skills that differentiate it significantly from its standing counterpart.
The court measures 10×6 meters, slightly smaller than a standard volleyball court, with a lower net (1.15 meters for men, 1.05 meters for women). Players must maintain contact between their pelvis and the floor during all actions, making core strength and rapid upper body movement essential. The game moves at an astonishing pace, with rallies often featuring lightning-fast exchanges that test reaction times and strategic thinking.
“The blocking game is completely different,” Samani explains. “In standing volleyball, blockers jump to defend against attacks. In sitting volleyball, we use our hands and upper bodies to create defensive walls while maintaining seated positions. It requires incredible spatial awareness and anticipation.”
Overcoming Infrastructure Challenges
One of the significant hurdles facing sitting volleyball development in West Africa has been infrastructure. Standard volleyball courts can be adapted for sitting volleyball, but dedicated facilities with appropriate flooring—cushioned surfaces that protect players during dives and slides—remain rare.
Samani has become innovative in his approach, working with local communities to create affordable adaptations. “We’ve used wrestling mats, gymnastics flooring, even layered carpets in community centers,” he says. “The important thing is getting people playing, showing them what’s possible, and building demand for better facilities.”
The Road Ahead: International Competition and Local Development
Samani’s participation in the Kigali certification represents a crucial step toward Togo’s potential participation in international sitting volleyball competitions. While the sport has been part of the Paralympic program since the Arnhem 1980 Games, African representation has historically been limited, with Egypt being the continent’s most consistent competitor at the highest levels.
The development of qualified coaches like Samani creates a pathway for Togolese athletes to eventually compete in regional, continental, and potentially global competitions. “We’re building from the ground up,” Samani acknowledges. “International competition is a long-term goal, but our immediate focus is creating sustainable local programs that give people with disabilities opportunities to play, compete, and excel.”
A Model for Inclusive Sports Development
Samani’s work offers a potential blueprint for other developing nations looking to expand their adaptive sports programs. His approach combines community engagement, practical adaptation of existing resources, and strategic pursuit of international certification and standards.
“The most successful adaptive sports programs often emerge from passionate individuals who see a need and fill it,” observes Michael Johnson, a development officer with the International Paralympic Committee. “Coach Samani represents exactly the kind of grassroots leadership that can transform sports landscapes in regions where Paralympic sports are still developing.”
Beyond Certification: The Human Impact
While the technical aspects of coaching certification are crucial, Samani emphasizes that the human element remains at the heart of his work. He shares stories of athletes who discovered new confidence through sports, of parents who saw their children with disabilities in a new light after watching them compete, and of community members who became advocates for accessibility after witnessing the determination of sitting volleyball players.
“One of my most rewarding moments,” he reflects, “was watching a young athlete who had been largely homebound due to mobility challenges compete in his first tournament. The joy on his face, the pride in his family’s eyes—that’s what this is really about. The certifications and competitions are important, but they’re means to an end. The real goal is dignity, community, and human connection.”
Looking to the Future
As Samani completes his practical examination in Kigali, he looks toward a future where Togo not only participates in international sitting volleyball competitions but becomes a regional hub for the sport’s development. He envisions coaching clinics, youth development programs, and eventually, a national team that can represent Togo on the African stage.
“This certification is just the beginning,” he states with determination. “We’re building something that will outlast any single coach or athlete. We’re creating opportunities for the next generation of Togolese athletes with disabilities to dream bigger and achieve more than anyone thought possible.”
The significance of Samani’s participation in the Kigali certification extends far beyond the individual achievement. It represents Togo’s growing commitment to inclusive sports, the professionalization of Paralympic coaching in West Africa, and the power of sport to transform lives and communities. As sitting volleyball continues to gain recognition across the continent, pioneers like Valentin Samani ensure that the growth is built on a foundation of expertise, passion, and unwavering commitment to inclusion.