By; MUSA NIMROD.
This year has been tedious and challenging for the Nigeria Volleyball Federation. Despite all odds, Nigeria was able to leave a mark in the sand of time, by achieving some herculean task within the year.
2022 is a year filled with so many interesting events, not just as proposed in the federation calendar, but also as achieved. In line with the vision of the Federation to raise a new generation of players that will fill in the gap that existed for almost two decades, the board of Nigeria Volleyball Federation took a crucial but difficult decision that ensure the participation of the country in three different continental age grade competitions.
These include the U-19 boys, U 19 girls, as well as the U-21 male championship which were held in Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia. It is worthy to note that the country came 1st in Morocco, 3rd in Nigeria and 4th in Tunisia. Putting all these together, it is important to note that Nigeria is identified and recognized as a hub of junior Volleyball in Africa.
It is with a heart of gratitude on behalf of the board of administration and all the members of the Federation, I express profound appreciation to all the stakeholders, officials, players and friends of volleyball in Nigeria, both here and in diaspora, for their unflinching support that ensure the successful participation of these teams.
The board wish to congratulate the entire Nigeria Volleyball clubs for their fortitude in keeping faith with the League Management Committee (LMC). For a 5th consecutive year, we hosted the Nigeria Volleyball leagues, which has since been divided into 3 categories.
Despite the challenges of the absence of corporate sponsors, the tenacity and sportsmanship exhibited by participating clubs will surely lead to a more rewarding league in due time.
As we put finishing touches to the hosting of division 1 and 2 finals and the national Beach Volleyball tour in Kaduna and Abuja , we wish all participating teams a beautiful and hitch free final phases.
In compliment to the visit of the FIVB delegates to Nigeria early this year, a technical and tactical Coach is currently in the country and has since resumed work.
Mandated with the responsibility to reposition Nigeria Volleyball, Coach Alex Boskovic is highly welcome to Nigeria where he is expected to work for the next one year. The collaborative initiative with the FIVB is to set Nigeria on the right track of sustainable volleyball development for the coming years.
The tactical Coach has started a capacity building seminars for Nigeria coaches across the 6 geopolitical zones, starting from the Southwest to be followed by Northwest and the other zones.
The capacity building by the technical coach is targeted towards preparing Nigeria players and coaches to ensure a podium finish in continental and global competitions in the next 4-5 years, especially in the senior category.
Next year, 2023 Nigeria has three major championships to participate which include African Youths Games in Egypt, U-19 boys World championship and the African Games in Accra Ghana.
So far so good, a national training program has since begun and was designed and conducted by Coach Alex Boskovic who aimed to step up the techniques of the game in the play systems of our various teams.
We call on all players and coaches to take advantage of this opportunity to fully cooperate with the Federation and enjoy these programs within this period of Volleyball recalibration in Nigeria.
Our outermost gratitude goes to the stakeholders out there who supported our teams in different forms. We look forward to more collaboration as we work towards corporate sponsors and support for our activities.
A huge congratulations to the technical crew and players of the age grade national teams with special appreciation to the U19 boys for making Nigeria proud in lifting the continental trophy in Morocco.
The Beach volleyball commission also celebrate a great achievement when the country participated in African beach volleyball nations cup, coming 4th in the female category, this came after our Junior national teams qualify for the African youths games in Badagry after winning all their encounters in the Badagry meet.
A huge congratulations to the Nigeria volleyball community for all the successes recorded.
We have also successfully concluded our calendar year with the final stages of the Division 1 and 2. We congratulate all the winners of the leagues, and hope to host a better and more rewarding league next year. We also hope for sponsors and partners, who wish to key into sport and youths development through the sports of volleyball.
On behalf of the board of administration of the Federation, I wish to express our condolence to the Nigeria Volleyball community for the demise of one of our pioneer Referee; Navy Commander Kuje. May the good Lord comfort his family.
As we look towards the last quarter of the year 2022, we pray for a perfect end of the year and also for success in the events that will unfold in the coming days, weeks and months.
These includes the various training camps for junior and senior players, as well as the the National sports festival
May God bless Nigeria Volleyball!
May God bless Nigeria!
Engineer Musa Nimrod is he President Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF)
