Beach Volleyball: Nigerian Player Faults Preparation For Italian Tourney

Nigerian beach volleyball player, Isaac Igigba has expressed his displeasure over the lack of adequate preparation for the upcoming Federation of International Volleyball , FIVB, sanctioned competition holding from 27 June to 1 July, in Tortoli, Italy.

The Nigerian team had failed to secure an automatic ticket for the London 2012 Olympic Games after they finished third at the CAVB Beach Volleyball Continental Cup/Olympic qualifier held in Mauritius, in April.

With another chance to secure a ticket for the Games at the FIVB Beach tourney in Italy fast approaching, Igigba said the Nigeria Beach Volleyball Federation, NBVF, is not doing enough in terms of their preparation for the tourney, adding that now is the right time for them to begin camping for the championship.

“We are repeating the same mistake we made towards our trip to Mauritius by failing to start preparation in earnest for a major tourney such as the upcoming Beach World Cup in Italy.

“With few weeks before the start of the Beach World Cup in Italy, we have not played any match since our last match against Angola in Mauritius.

“And sincerely, it seems the federation is not doing anything to ensure that we qualify for the Olympics,” said Igigba.

Speaking on their chances in Italy, the player said: “We are still hopeful of qualification, knowing that we have to finish among the first five teams in Italy to book our place to London.”

Nigeria defeated Congo Brazzaville in four straight matches to qualify for the Italian tourney. It is the last Olympic qualification tournament for Nigeria after Angola beat them 4-0 in the semi-final in Mauritius.

South Africa emerged the first country to seal their place to London after their men’s team clinched a ground-breaking victory over Angola in Mauritius.

—Bamidele Olowosagba