Sports
FIVB Qualifier: 12 Nigerian Players Storm Cote d’Ivoire
The coach of the Female Na
tional Volleyball Team, Tony Oghuma-Eghimai, has promised that his team would be the first to represent Nigeria at the FIVB World Women’s Championship.
Oghuma-Eghimai told Tidesports source in Abuja, shortly after the team’s morning training session, that his players had been training seriously for the competition.
He said this had been since the team resumed camping on November 20 in preparation for the 2014 FIVB World Women’s Championship Zonal Qualifiers in Cote d’Ivoire.
The zonal qualifiers, which have Nigeria grouped alongside Cote d’Ivoire and Togo in Zone 3, will hold from November 27 to December 1.
“For now, the preparation level is high and the girls are taking this assignment very serious.
“This is because they want to make history for themselves by being the first Nigerian female volleyball team that will qualify for a World Championship.
“So, with this at the back of their minds, the girls are ready to go and they are working very hard,’’ Oghuma-Eghimai said.
He said the team was well equipped to overcome the shortcoming of starting the camping late.
“Definitely, the short time we have for preparations will tell on the players. But, as professionals, we are well equipped to know how to overcome such shortcomings.
“For the past one month, I have been communicating with the players, guiding them to train.
“I also gave them tips on what they should do to keep fit and how to correct their weaknesses which I have noticed over the years.
“So, I think with that, all what we are doing here is just a celebration of what they have been doing in their respective clubsides and states,’’ Oghuma-Eghimai said.
The coach said the team had some virtues which would work as an advantage for them, listing them to include age, height, discipline and the players’ collective enthusiasm.
“And I enjoy seeing all these things in them, knowing that they will serve as an advantage to us,’’ he said.
The match, which ended 2-2 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Saturday, March 28, was marred by a series of serious breaches. According to the NPFL, Bendel Insurance failed to provide adequate matchday security, which allowed unauthorised individuals to gain access to restricted areas within the stadium.
The situation deteriorated further after the final whistle. Supporters of the Benin-based club were found guilty of unsporting behaviour, and match officials were reportedly held hostage for 40 minutes in the aftermath of the game, a development the league described as a direct violation of football governance and safety standards.
Boboye was found guilty of gross misconduct towards a match official, an act deemed to be in breach of the league’s regulations on discipline and fair play.
In addition to the coach’s personal sanction, Bendel Insurance were fined five million naira for the various breaches, with the club also ordered to play their next three home matches behind closed doors.
The NPFL said the penalties reflected its commitment to maintaining order, professionalism and respect for match officials, particularly in high-pressure situations.
The suspension represents a significant blow to Bendel Insurance at a critical stage of the season, leaving the technical crew to manage upcoming fixtures without Boboye’s direct influence on the touchline. The closed-door order will also deprive the club of home support at the Ogbemudia Stadium, affecting both atmosphere and the financial returns from those matches.
Bendel Insurance retain the right to appeal the ruling through the appropriate NPFL disciplinary channels
According to reports, the accident happened while the club was travelling to Lagos for a Nigeria National League (NNL) fixture.
The club confirmed that the team bus lost control and tumbled near Asaba during the journey.
In a statement, Calabar Rovers said that the accident left several players, officials, and staff injured, with one player in critical condition receiving intensive medical care.
The club described the situation as “a painful moment,” adding that the injured are receiving the best possible treatment and support.
It stated that the welfare of the players remains its top priority during the period.
The club said it appreciates the prayers and urged fans to continue to keep the injured players in their thoughts.
The team was travelling for an away fixture against Sporting Lagos, which incidentally, had already been postponed indefinitely by the NNLboard due to the unavailability of the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
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