Post-insurgency: Church Engages Youths In Volleyball Championship

The Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, also known as Ekklesiyan Yan’uwa A Nigeria (EYN), has concluded the second edition of its volleyball championship as post-insurgency activities, with testimonies of how it has benefited the church and participants.

The president of the church, Rev Dr Daniel Mbaya, said during the closing day of the championship at the church headquarters in Kwarhi, Adamawa State, that it started the championship to engage its youths after realising that they were leaving the church.

Mbaya said volleyball became the sport of choice among the EYN, noting that it is not only one of the most-watched sports globally but also one of the least prone to accidents or injuries.

The EYN president revealed that the tournament had made the church more appealing to youths, raised the sporting profile of the EYN as it has been classified by the Nigerian Volleyball Federation as a volleyball space, and thrust many of the players into national fame.

“This is the second edition of this tournament. From the first edition right here in Kwarhi, 19 of our youths were selected, and they have been participating in various competitions across the country and even outside the country,’ Mbaya said.

He added that, as at the close of the second tournament at the weekend, nearly the same number of players had been pencilled down for engagements around the country and, very possibly, afterwards, outside the country.

Ten DCCs participated in the 2nd EYN Volleyball Inter-DCC Tournament, with the DCC Mbulamel team from Biu Local Government Area of Borno State taking first place.

The team, during the final game, beat DCC Lokuwa of Mubi North LGA, Adamawa State, to second place, with DCC Jimeta of Yola North LGA taking third place.

The chairman of the tournament planning committee, Rev Elai Samuel, said 10 DCCs participated, and the captain of the victorious DCC Mbulamel team, Yahya Aliu, said the tournament was a great opportunity as it brought youths together to prove their worth in a healthy manner.