25th January, 2018
Musa Nimrod, President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), on Thursday said 60 teams would play in the federation’s national league billed to begin either in March or April.
Nimrod, while disclosing this at the sport’s stakeholders meeting in Abuja, said the federation and other stakeholders were already brainstorming on the league’s guidelines.
“This is being done at this stakeholders’ meeting, and this will help us to chart the way forward.’’
He said the federation was doing this in collaboration with its Technical Committee and the Nigeria Volleyball Coaches and Referees Association.
“We are starting the league between March and April, without funding, and that is going to be a plus for the volleyball federation.
“We are not going to gather 10 or eight teams to play, as in a super league. This is going to be different. We are going to start from the zones — the Savannah and Atlantic — and round up with the Premiership.
“We have 36 states and the FCT to supply teams, as well as other privately-owned teams, while we also have 10 military and para-military bodies which will have their own zone. So, we are talking of close to 60 teams going to start the league.
“They have all agreed to start without a sponsor. In the 70s and 80s volleyball and football were contesting with each other, but we are coming back now to redeem our name,’’ the NVBF president said.
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Reacting to the development, Timothy Samuel, an international beach volleyball referee, said the league would be a welcome development and an advantage to the federation and country.
“The league will keep the players busy. If we keep these players in matches day in day out, it makes them to be more active and productive.
“I am praying that God will give us a good sponsor who will help the league to grow.
Sheba Jefferson, an international volleyball referee, said the league would keep players, coaches and referees busy and it would help to develop the sport.
She said the league would also help the federation to build formidable national teams for indoor volleyball.