Volleyball League: Ministry of Sports Shower Encomiums on NVBF

The Nigeria Volleyball Premier League came to an end on Saturday 10th November with history created when Nigeria Custom service logged it out with Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps both competing for the Premiership title at the Male and Female category. However, this time NCS vigorously stopped the NSCDC men and women from taking up the title they have held on to the past years with a defeat of the women 3-0 and men 2-1 to emerge champions. Performing the trophy presentation ceremony, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development Olusola Adesola gave kudos to the current Board of the Volleyball Federation for living up to regular competitions this year to keep the society entertained. He states “in the first perspective, this the second time in a couple of months I’ll be here to witness volleyball competition, it shows that the federation is alive and working. It also makes it possible for people to be entertained particularly from the services where we are very hopeful professionals will emerge. This event also justifies the action of the Hon. Minister Barr. Solomon Selca Dalung when he came to office. Prior to his time, ministers in office will select who they want to be in the federations, but when he came into office he said go and select who will be in your board. The election of board members brought on board people that really have passion for the games and that are ready to contribute”. President of the Federation Musa Nimrod states that the federation have witnessed ups and downs yet surmounted all to have a league functioning in the country “I want to assure you that the developmental program we are on will assist us with Technical Advisers from Federation of International Volleyball who will come and look at all our age grades to assist our coaches” Reacting to the outstanding performance of NCS, the Secretary General of Customs’ Sports Samuel Onikeku says the proactive and early camping of the service has paid off with the team utilizing all at their disposal to cling the Premiership titles “ since we have this new Comptroller General of Custom, his a disciplinary and a goal getter. At the first stage of the League, we engaged in adequate camping and kept winning all our games. What we are looking forward to is having 12 players from NCS fielding in the National Team”. He further states that the service has a motivation policy of employing all their female players into the service. His NSCDC counterpart Commandant Sports Ayodele Titus stated: “For the past 8 years we have been champions in Nigeria, so it’s expected that one day, someone will come up and defeat you. We are gallant losers and we are not disgraced”. The players gave their take on the successful league and called on early preparations and psychological supports to enable them do more. Also on ground to give their experiences on the championship is the coaching crew of NSCDC Coach Ajayi Samuel who gave the state of injury of 4 of his major players as the reason for their lose to NSC “this competition is good for the players and the federation so that we can be able to compete with other African players. The problem this competition is having right now is lack of adequate sponsorship”. Giving the vote of thanks Vice President of the federation Proff. Adeoju is hopeful the dignitaries at the competition will always honor the federation invitation for more events. Just as HRH Adesina of the board and Assistant Director of Prisons says the N350, 000.00 first prize money, N250, 000.00 and N150, 000.00 is not commendable but the federation will improve with all the calls already put up by the current board members made up of persons who are willing to sacrifice and contribute assiduously to discover more grassroots’ talents “Nimrod is a man of integrity and knows all it takes to give the federation its best even to using his financial back up”.