By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Nigerian Navy (NN), has pledged to periodically embark on special recruitment for sportsmen and women to continue to maintain its excellent performance in sporting competitions within and outside the country.
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, made this pledge when he received the triumphant male and female CNS Spikers Volleyball Club, who were at Naval Headquarters to present trophies to him.
He applauded the team for their dedication, hardwork and victories recorded thus far.
Represented by the Chief of Administration, Rear Admiral Kenneth Ezete, the CNS advised the team members to also build their capacity, with the view to acquire additional skills that would help them later in life.
He observed that human strength which is primary in sports wanes with age, hence the need to build their skills in other areas that require less strength, which they will fall back to after retirement from active sporting life.
Earlier in a remark, the Chairman, CNS Spikers Volleyball Club, Cdre Muhammed Muye, observed that some of his players are aging and some may suffer physical injuries and would require replacement from time to time.
He disclosed that some young and talented players have been constantly identified and lured into the NN to beef up the team.
“Some of the players seated here today, passed out from training school either last year or this year while some are presently undergoing training at NNBTS. It is therefore suggested that special consideration could be given to such players who are qualified to further beef up and strengthen the team especially now that both teams will be flying the NN Flag in the National Volleyball Premier League. Additionally, the NN could consider occasional special recruitment for sportsmen and women in various sporting events as done in other sister Services to enable us compete favourably with other teams,” he said.
Chronicling the performance of the team, the Chairman said, the team had its 1st major Championship organized by the Nigerian Volleyball Federation (NVBF) in Kontagora in Mar 21, where it emerged champions in the Male category while the female team came second.
The CNS Spikers Volleyball Club, he added also won the 2022 National Divisions I & II Volleyball leagues in both the female and male categories despite participating for the very first time.
He revealed that the team gained promotion to the National Volleyball Premier league for female and National Division I for male respectively in 2023.
“Suffice to state here that the male team topped both 1st & 2nd Phases of the National Division 1 league that was played in Owerri, Imo State in Jun 23 and in Kaduna in Oct 23. The male team was unbeaten in all the matches played and were crowned champions in Kaduna in Oct 23. Consequently, the Team has gained promotion to play in the Premier league in 2024. The female team also topped the 1st & 2nd Phases of the Premier league played in Abuja in Jul 23 & Nov 23 and have been crowned champions of the National Volleyball Premier league 2023. It is also pertinent to mention that the male team won five individual awards including the MVP. Likewise, the female won three Individual Awards including the MVP.
“It could also be recalled that the excellent performance of the CNS Spikers earned firstly, the female team’s participation as Nigeria’s Representative at the 2022, African Club Championship in Kelibia, Tunisia where the team defeated some highly rated teams from Ethiopia, Rwanda and Cote d’ Ivoire despite participating for the first time. The CNS Spikers Male and Female teams were again, nominated based on excellent performances to represent Nigeria at the African Club,” he concluded.
