African U-21 Men’s Volleyball: Youth Games Gold Medalists Make Nigeria’s Squad

By Admin Eight players that made Nigeria proud by winning the male volleyball gold at the recently concluded African Youth Games in Algeria are expected to feature for Nigeria’s U-21 team at the 2018 U-21 Men’s African Nations Volleyball Championship to be hosted by Nigeria in Abuja from September 10th to 20th, 2018. This was disclosed by the U-21 National Head Coach, Elishama Elam while fielding questions from newsmen at the Murtala Square, venue of the camp of the team Nigeria in Kaduna, yesterday. “I have some crop of U-17 players that just came back from Algeria, so we have some information on North African countries. Eight of the U-17 who won the Africa Youth Games gold in Algeria are in the team,” he said. Elam explained that Nigeria’s National U-21 camp started since August 26 and they are preparing very hard to make the country proud again. “With the level of preparation, we will do well. I don’t believe in hosting to win, but we will win, even if the competition is taken elsewhere, we will win,” he assured. On the condition of the camp so far, he said it was moving smoothly, while hinting that the number of players would be pruned by today (Thursday). “The feeding is okay, the President of NVBF, Engr. Musa Nimrod and board members have ensured that we are adequately catered for. Right now there are 30 players in camp but by tomorrow (Thursday) they would be reduced to 18 for the final team”, he added. He explained that they would be in Kaduna till September 5, where they will move to the venue of the competition which is Abuja to acclimatize. Also speaking, Captain of the team, Moses Gana who is 19 years old, said that they have been blending at the preparation and are ready to make Nigeria proud. Another player in camp, Henry Ibe Bruno Tochukwu, 17 years old, and one of those that won gold for Nigeria in Algeria said that the players in camp from experience gathered at the Africa Youth Games are ready to do Nigeria proud. While at the camp, the President,Nigerian Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engineer Nimrod was also sighted giving the players and coaches moral support without interfering in the selection process. He, however, declined speaking to the press, saying whatever was said by the coach suffices. Twelve countries are participating namely; host Nigeria, DR Congo, Chad, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Guinea, Tunisia, Egypt, Niger, Botswana, Cameroon and Morocco. Source: leadershipng.com