The winning U-19 Male Team from Nigeria is currently camped out at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna in preparation for the World Indoor Volleyball Championship scheduled for Argentina later this year.
There are 18 players registered for the two-week camp, of whom 12 will be chosen at the end of the exercise to represent Nigeria at the championship.
Coach Adekalu Joseph Adeniyi, the team manager, told reporters after yesterday’s practice that the team is getting ready for the global tournament and is confident that Nigeria would be represented well.
“What we’re doing is a part of getting ready. Nine days have passed since we arrived here, out of the two weeks we planned to stay. There are 18 guys in all who are at camp; 12 will be chosen,” he said.
He said, “We are coming back in July with 24 players before the tournament in Argentina between August 4 and 13” would start.
He said, “We qualified from Morocco in September of last year. Egypt came in second place, behind us. The African nations who would compete in the U-19 world championship are Nigeria and Egypt.
We’ll be there to present a positive image of ourselves. I don’t like to brag, but we are certain that we will succeed, he remarked.
He praised the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), which is chaired by Engineer Musa Nimrod, for taking care of the players and officials in camp.
“I would like to commend the NVBF, led by Engineer Musa Nimrod. It is not an easy assignment to get these players to eat three square meals, but that is what they are getting. In contrast to other halls, this one provides toiletries and is convenient with no player distractions.
“I want to thank the Federal Ministry of Sports since they provide the framework for our operations. We appreciate their helping us out. We would want to express our gratitude to Minister Sunday Dare for his support; he is doing well, he said.
Patrick Anthony, the team’s captain and 18-year-old speaker, added that they began training on the seventh of this month.
“Everyone of us is eager to go out and succeed. We intend to come in first,” he stated.
When asked which of their opponents they would be afraid about in the competition, he responded, “Everybody will give us a good fight; it is not limited to any special team.”
Eliphas Yusuf, a 17-year-old youngster from Adamawa State, claimed that their trainers have given them excellent training so that they may make Nigeria proud.
We shall win the gold in Argentina by God’s grace. For a good tour, we look for players among Nigerians, ” he stated.
