Ahead of the Africa Volleyball U-19 Championship billed for Nigeria and Morocco simultaneously, President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) Engineer Musa Nimrod Musa has charged the country’s male and female teams to go for podium finishes.
Nimrod gave the charge while addressing the two teams before their departure at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium (ABS), Kaduna where they had camped for weeks.
According to him: “This is to unveil our U-19 boys and girls teams ahead of the African championship. The U-19 Boys will be heading for Morocco tomorrow (Tuesday) and the girls to Abuja today (yesterday).”
He explained that the female team have to be in Abuja on Monday ahead of full arrival billed for August 30.
“After rigorous training from coaches, they are set to go. Over 30 players were invited to camp for each team, 12 male players have been selected for Morocco, while the girls will go with 14 players because we are hosting in Abuja.
“It’s our desire that they will come first. Our major goal is to see that we get a ticket for the world championship,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s Technical Crew have been assisting them to ensure they excel at their respective competitions.
Speaking further, he said that the game of volleyball is now a sought after game at the grassroots and keeps getting huge followership as the days go by.
“Those days in the 1980s, football and volleyball were competing even with the crowd. We pray God helps us to get back and surpass that feat. The league is still going to take place, we pray it is successful.”
“We want to thank the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Zonal Coordinator for accommodating us for the past one and half months.
“I see greater things coming ahead for our coaches and players. Your performance determines whether coaches will invite you to the national camp. You have to play as a team, not as individuals. Please work together, move together, talk together, eat together. May God be with you and grant you success,” he charged the players.