By JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
A total number of 38 teams are participating at this year’s President Beach Volleyball Cup, which served off at the Ahmedu Bello Stadium world-class beach volleyball courts on Tuesday February 14.
According to the Technical Director of Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Chief Martin Melandi, the 4th edition of the President Beach Volleyball Cup (Junior and Senior) is scheduled for 13th to 19th February, 2023 at Ahmadu Bello Stadium (ABS) in Kaduna.
Melandi said in the senior categories, 13 men and 7 women’s teams got registered while in the U17 categories, 10 boy’s and 8 Girls teams indicated interest.
He said the Nigeria Volleyball Federation is working assiduously in ensuring players get enough playing time due to the number of international engagements.
He said, “The number of players participating in this year’s President Beach Volleyball Cup is encouraging. It means the players are beginning to pick interest in beach volleyball.
“This year, the number of international beach volleyball events are high and the NVBF wants to create an environment where players can have playing time.’
The President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod expressed delight over the number of registered players at this year’s President Cup.
Nimrod said, “This is one of the happiest moments in my life because the players are embracing beach volleyball. I want to assure you that the Federation is working with potential sponsors ahead of the National Beach Volleyball Tour in the coming months.
“I want to welcome everyone of you to the President Cup, enjoy yourself, play safe and ultimately put in your best because we are going to make selections from this event”.
Full list of participating teams:
Men’s team (13)
Life Camp VC, GG Spikers, Desert Warriors VC, Games Bill VC, Nigeria Customs Service, Nile University, Kada Stars, Gombe State, Kano Pillars, Nigeria Correctional Service, Niger Brass VC, Nyanya Spikers and Kaduna State
Women’s team (7)
Nigeria Customs Service, Adamawa Queens, Kaduna State, Nile University, FCT, Niger Ravens and NSCDC
U-17 Boys team (10)
Kada Stars, Flourish VC, FCT, Adamawa State, Pro Spikers, Katsina United, Samba Boys, Young Eagles, Filkom VC and Nyanya Spikers
U-17 Girls team (8)
Flourish VC, Kada Team, Plateau Peacock, Kastina State, Team FCT, Pro Spikers, Young Eagles and Filkom.
Meanwhile, as exciting action continues, Niger Ravens fell to Hasso Queens of Adamawa 1-2 on Wedesday in the female category, while hosts Kaduna State thrashed Nyanya Spikers 2-0 in a male encounter.
In the U-17 Boys category, Adamawa State thrashed Flourish VC 2-0, while Kada Stars beat Filkom 2-0.
The U-17 Girls category saw
Plateau Peacock failing to fly, as they lost 0-2 to Young Eagles, while FCT wasted no time in taming Flourish 2-0.
Later same day, FCT trounced Young Eagles 2-0 in the U-17 Boys category, while Pro Spikers had an easy sail over Nyanya Spikers 2-0.
For Adamawa Spikers, it was a three set game that saw them sail over Samba Boys, (2-1)
1st set: 21-17
2nd set: 16-21
3rd set: 15-13
In the Senior male category, Correctional taught GG Spikers some discipline, trouncing them in two straight sets 2-0, first set ended 21-13, while the second was 21-7.
The hardness of Niger Brass was broken by Desert Warriors as their game ended (0-2).
For the U-17 Girls category, home girls Kada Emeralds fought hard to subdue opponents, Pro Spikers 2-0.
Filkom VC were not strong enough for Katsina as they fell 1-2, while
Kada Emeralds taught Young Eagles who failed to fly a lesson 2-0.
In the senior female category, it was an easy win in the match between NSCDC and FCT, ending 0-2.
The star match however, between defending champions Customs against Kaduna was a battle of wits, ending in three sets of Kaduna 2-1.
Customs lost the first set: 18-21, bounced back to claim second set
21-14, before sealing victory in the third 15-5.
The President Cup is expected to end on Saturday.
