SOUTH WEST VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ENDS IN IBADAN

By NBF NEWS

The U-19 volleyball competition organized by the South west zone of the National Sports Commission will end today in Ibadan.

Coordinator of the NSC in the zone Steve olarinoye said the aim of the competition was to expose the youths to the sport, lamenting the slide in its awareness in Nigeria.

'In the past, volleyball, handball, hockey and other sports were played very well by Nigeria. Unfortunately, we failed to build on the awareness created at the time. The NSC realizes the role of sports in nation building and instead of concentrating on football alone, it has decided to explore the opportunities in other sports.'

So far, Ogun State team is the team to beat at the championship as the team also prepares for this year's edition of the National Sports Festival coming up in Rivers State. Lagos and Oyo states are the other participants at the championship.

Also present at the Liberty Stadium venue of the championship is the Vice Chairman National Volleyball Federation, Dr. Babatunde Morakinyo, of University of Ibadan. He said Nigeria needs to organize frequent competition to raise the awareness of the sport in the country.

'Part of our aims at the federation level is to have as many competition as possible, so that the game can be made popular among the young ones and that was why we are giving the new zonal coordinator here at the south west all the necessary support.'