The Madagascar Volleyball Federation has requested the reinforcement of expatriate players for the U18 Zone 7 championship. The setter from US Talence VB has been in the country for a few days.
17-year-old, 1.86m tall French-based expatriate Allan Jarvis Rakotoarisoa is visiting the country to strengthen the national team for the U18 Zone 7 African Championship, scheduled from August 5 to 10 at the Palais des Sports Mahamasina. He usually spends two to three months a year in the country during the summer holidays. The setter’s goal is to “evolve at the high level in France or in Madagascar with the national team.” Passionate about sports in general, he has previously practiced other disciplines such as football and rugby, as well as combat sports like karate and taekwondo, before being drawn to volleyball.
Allan was influenced by his uncle, a former GNVB volleyball player currently living in Reunion Island. “He told me I had the athletic physique for volleyball, so I started practicing it,” he recounts.
He discovered volleyball at Esca Antanimena at the age of 18, where he underwent training for 2 to 3 years before participating in the Analamanga U20 championship. He then played for GNVB in 2022 and 2023 in the U16 and U18 categories.
“We competed in the Madagascar U18 Boys’ championship and the team was eliminated in the final,” he confides.
After his baccalaureate, Allan had to continue his studies in France and joined the US Talence VB club in Bordeaux. “We participated in several competitions in the Regional League 1 in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. We subsequently advanced to the pre-national level.” In the Elite U18 category, his team was eliminated in the 8th round by Paris VB in the French Cup. “I tried my luck for the first time in the French Beach Volleyball Cup. The opponents were all very experienced, and we were eliminated in the 2nd round. Despite that, I was able to gain experience and I am ready for the next season,” he says.
Alongside sports, Allan is pursuing studies in economics and management. In his second year, he will specialize in business management and marketing.
“I am passionate about volleyball and I have to manage my studies at the same time. I have a detailed schedule. You can’t do it by feeling. Fortunately, my schedule isn’t too heavy. I spend an hour every morning jogging before going to university. After classes, I go to the gym. In my free time, I focus on homework and, sometimes, recovery.”
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-15 05:57:01 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/volleyball-zone-7-allan-jarvis.html