By; MUSA NIMROD
Sequel to the visit of the FIVB delegation to Nigeria, the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) negotiated some technical opportunities and primary among them is the need for a technical and tactical coach who is to help recalibrate the coaching system in Nigeria: it was implemented and in the year 2023.
The Nigeria Volleyball Federation hosted capacity building seminars in 5 of the 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria, with special focus on grassroots development and Coaching processes. As a follow up to this capacity building, training camps were organised for players with selected Coaches drafted for practical mentorship under the supervision of the FIVB instructor.
The President Beach Volleyball Cup and the Abuja Invitational Volleyball Challenge herald the 2023 calendar. The Abuja Invitational also set the pace for Park Volleyball which was keenly contested during the challenge.
The National Volleyball Lower League was later unbundled to pave the way for Division 2, making it a three stage league, which is aimed at giving opportunities to smaller teams and grassroots clubs. Today we are proud to say almost all the regions in the country are represented in the league at various levels.
The Federation in its Quest to pursue excellence, hosted an open national camp and over a hundred boys and girls attended the open camp for selection in Kaduna. This was in preparation for the African U-17 Boys and Girls championship, which was a prerequisite for qualifying and participating in the maiden edition of the world U-17 championship scheduled for 2024.
To the glory of God Nigeria hosted and clutched the silver of the girls edition in Abuja, thus qualifying for the world championship. This cemented our prowess as one of the best in age grade Volleyball development in Africa. Nigeria has been consistent in U-21, U-19 and now U-17.
In the African zone 3 Under21 championship in Niamey Niger, the Nigeria girls team showed class and won the gold. This was also capped with the ANOCA gold that the senior female national team won in Lome Togo at the end of 2023.
Also in 2023 the long drought for international Coaching capacity building was broken, as the Federation facilitated an FIVB level one Coaching Course which seeks the certification of a score of Coaches.
Beach Volleyball
Nigeria remains a force to reckon with in Beach Volleyball in the continent. The National Beach Volleyball Star/ Tour was hosted in cities across the states and scores of clubs participated.
Nigeria also participated in the Beach games in Tunisia and also the Beach Volleyball U21 Nations Cup in Morocco where they had a podium finish as the runner up in the female category.
To cap the beach volleyball success story in 2023, the Federation, despite tight funding and bottleneck challenges was able to participate in the world U21 championship in Thailand.
Diaspora Players
The number of Nigeria players trading their skills in the international club arena have increased tremendously. Our high rated players made it to Europe, Asia and other African countries where they play as professionals.
This is evident to the fact that our league is growing, and with time, we will also have other international players plying their trade here.
Shortcomings
Without any hard feelings 2023 was a year saddled with success and also pockets of disappointments. Which is not only an albatross but a reason to work hard and improve in these aspects.
Some of our major incidents that challenged our success story was the failure of the three teams to secure visas to the FIVB U19 Boy’s World Championship in Argentina, FIVB U-19 Girl’s World Championship in Croatia and the Senior World Beach Championship in Mexico.
Despite the Federation’s effort to camp, process and purchase tickets for the teams. This is an aspect that needs serious overhaul and we will not blind our eyes to this reality.
Gratitude
Our appreciation goes to all the individuals, groups, clubs associations and organisations that participated or contributed to the success and beauty of the game in various capacities across Nigeria.
Players, Coaches, Referees, Federation administration and support staff, the media and the Board members are all appreciated for their dogged and resilience role they all played all through the year.
We also wish to express our gratitude to the minister of youths and Sport for his immense moral support especially during the African Girls championship in Abuja.
One of our key missions is to secure title sponsors in all our leagues and get endorsement and branding deals for our national teams in due course.
Permit me to use this medium to also emphasise that the Federation is open to discussion with anybody who has the window of opportunities for corporate sponsorship.
Thank you once again, let’s do it better this year. God bless us all.
Below are the list of championships attended/organised by the Nigeria Volleyball Federation:
1) President Beach Volleyball Cup
2) 1st and 2nd phase of the Beach Volleyball Tour
3) National Division 1 and 2 Volleyball Leagues (1st and 2nd phase)
4) Nigeria Volleyball Premier League
5) Nigeria hosted the 2023 Girls U17 African Nations Volleyball Championship winning silver medal.
6) Nigeria attended the U21 African Girls Championship in Niger Republic winning Gold medal.
7) Nigeria attended the Zone III African Beach Volleyball Championship winning gold medal in the women’s category and fourth in men’s category.
8) Nigeria attended the 2023 African Women’s Volleyball Championship in Cameroon
9) Nigeria U-21 Girls attended the FIVB World Championship in Thailand
10) Nigeria attended the 2023 ANOCA GAMES Zone 3, winning Gold medal in the women’s category.
Engineer Musa Nimrod is the President, Nigeria Volleyball Federation
