Head coach of Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Spikers, Sani Muhammed believed the fortunes of volleyball in the country is on the upward swing following the team’s impressive performance at the just concluded African Volleyball Club Championship in Tunis, writes TUNDE LIADI
Head coach, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Spikers, Sani Mohammed has described the team’s performance in their maiden appearance at the recently concluded African Volleyball Championship held in Kelibia El Haouaria, Tunisia as impressive and motivating for the sport.
Three Nigeria’s volleyball teams including both the men’s and women’s CNS Spikers teams as well as the Nigeria Customs Volleyball team, represented Nigeria in the competition at the continental competition.
CNS Spikers men’s team who made their debut appearance in the competition defeated Ethiopian side, Mugher Volleyball Club, 3-0 ( 25-18, 25-12, 25-15) before they were stopped 3-1 by Kenya Ports Authority in the Round of 16. They later settled for the ninth spot after a 3-0 defeat of Burundian opposition, Rukinzo Volleyball Club (25-19, 25-20, 25-16) in one of the classification games.
The women team finished in the 7th in only their second appearance after defeating Nyong Women Volleyball club of Cameroon. They had beaten ARSU Women Volleyball Club of Seychelles 3-0 and Ivorien side, CO Descartes 3-0 in the earlier rounds before Egyptian side and eventual champions, Zamalek SC thrashed them 3-0 in the quarter final. CNS Women side also lost to Kenya Commercial Bank 3-0 in the 5th and 6th classification tie.
The relative successes recorded by the teams notwithstanding, Mohammed praised the spirited performances of both the men and women ‘s CNS Spikers teams, adding with emphasis on long term preparations, Nigeria clubs have what it takes to excel in international competitions.
“We went for the African Men’s and Women’s Club championship in Tunisia. The men’s team came ninth and the women’s were seventh in Africa,” Mohammed said. “It was a good outing for the men’s because it was our debut appearance in the competition while the women’s team also tried their best in their second appearance.
“The men’s team won five out of the seven games played while the women’s team were eliminated in the quarter finals. I believe we can do better than we have done with good planning and emphasis on preparing the team.
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“We can go places with the right environment,” he added.
On the 2023 National Division 1 and 2 Leagues that recently took place in Owerri, Muhammed said CNS Spikers would do everything possible to pick one of the two promotion tickets to the Premier League at the end of the second stanza.
He insisted that CNS Spikers do not belong to the lower league and that all necessary steps have been put in place to ensure they secure the ticket ahead of the remaining four teams competing for the same purpose.
Muhammed said he was happy with their first stanza performance having won all their four games even as they eye encore in the second stanza.
“The competition is interesting and all the teams are trying their best,” he said on the margins of the first stanza of the 2023 National Division 1 League held recently in Owerri, Imo State.“ All the clubs here came with the intention of qualifying for the next divisions. I believe my team which is a team that just came back from the African club championship in Tunisia,is ready to pick the ticket to the premier league at the end of the competition.
“Based on the calibre of players and the level of our play, but because of the rules and regulations of the league, we have to start from the lower division to get to the higher division. We have done well with the way we performed in the first stanza winning all our four games.
“By the grace of God, we are certain the we will pick the first ticket. All the teams in Owerri came here to seek qualification. We know that no team is a pushover,” he added.
Muhammed hailed the significant support the team got from the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Jubril Awwal Gambo while also hoping for the same harmonious relationship under the new Chief of Naval Staff, Real Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
He also saluted the enthusiasm of the CNS Spikers’ Coordinator who a doubles as the chairman of the Volleyball Association in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Commodore James Aliyu Pindar.
“Our secret has been the adequate support we got from the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Jubril Awwal Gambo. He made us to feel belong and always answered us. We know that the new Chief of Naval Staff, Real Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla is a good man.
“Our team coordinator, Commodore James Aliyu Pindar is another reason we are winning. He takes personal interest in the team and always seeking improvement.”
Muhammed further praised the renaissance in volleyball under incumbent president of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod .
“The present board of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation under Engineer Musa Nimrod has been great. Volleyball has moved to a very high level both the beach and conventional Volleyball.
“We are grateful to the president for the steady progress is making and I think volleyball is on the rise again,” he remarked.