Team Nigeria on Thursday departed for Takoradi, Ghana ahead of the Beach Volleyball Open Championship organised for member countries in the West Africa sub-region, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Musa Nimrod, the Chairman of the Beach Volleyball Commission of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, said the team was prepared for the five-day competition scheduled to hold Dec. 12 – 16.
He said Dec. 12 had been fixed as the arrival date for the competition.
Nimrod also said that the federation was eager to give the country’s volleyball players adequate preparations ahead of international competitions lined up in 2014.
“The National team is going to Takoradi, Ghana for an open championship even though the championship is not meant for ranking.
“`But it is preparation towards putting the players in their fitness bearing in mind that next year, the continental cup is going to commence.
“The age-grade competitions are also going to take place so also the world championships.
“We are looking forward to starting our national tour next year for beach volleyball in the six geo-political zones.
“Arrival is on the Dec. 12,” Nimrod said.
The Beach Volleyball commission chairman gave the assurance that efforts were being made to regain the number one ranking in the senior cadre which South Africa presently occupies.
He noted that South Africa topped the latest ranking due to their participation in the last Olympics, as Nigeria failed to pick the ticket at the playoff in Russia.
“We want to participate because right now we are now back to number two.
“The reason why we are number two is because South Africa represented Africa at the last Olympics; we couldn’t get the ticket in Russia.
“So, we cannot just be sleeping and then think that Nigeria will continue to maintain its position.
“But bear this in mind, today, in both male and female under-21, we are currently number one in Africa; in under-19, we are number one in the female category and we are number two in the male category.
“So, we cannot lose that ranking; that is why we feel we should go to Ghana and participate to keep the fitness of our players,’’ he added.
Nimrod also added that four players and two officials were expected to join their counterparts from countries in the West African region for the championship.
“We have engaged our best hands for the championship and I am optimistic that we will do well,” he said.
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