NVBF unveils 14 players for African championship

Head Coach of Nigeria’s U-19 girls volleyball team, Elishama Elam, yesterday, released a list of 14 players that will represent the country at the African U-19 Girls Nations Volleyball Championship, which spikes off today at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. Nigeria is hosting the championship.

Elam will be assisted by Tina Azomani from the Delta Force Volleyball Team and NBVF’S new technical adviser, Alexander Boskovic.

Elam said the best players were selected after two months of camping and training at Ahmadu Bello Stadium (ABS), Kaduna State.

He said the players are ready to make Nigeria proud, adding that the team is prepared for any challenge at the championship.

“After six weeks of preparations, we are ready for the championship. The girls have been active throughout this year. Some of them played at the National Division 1 League; others played in several invitational championships, including beach championships.”

Elam was in charge of the country’s U-19 Girls when Cameroun defeated them in three games recently, but he said that ‘blip’ will not happen again.

“Nigeria is better prepared and will put in her best at this year’s championship. In the coaching crew is the new technical adviser, Boskovic and I am sure his tactical experience will be the joker for us,” he said.

He named the full squad to include Miriam Usman and Aishat Abdulraheem from Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Spikers; Christiana Laban from Plateau Rock; Blessing Unekwe from Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mary Gana from Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Naomi Yaro and Marvelous Chilota from Kada Emeralds.

Others are Charity Joseph from Niger Raven, Gift Michael, Verity Onyegwu from the Queen VC, Ifeoma Mordi, Deborah Chukwua and Sarah Ali from Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Spikers and Joy Owoniyi from Phoenix.

The Championship will end on September 10.