Bayelsa, Rivers Win 1st S’South Volleyball Open

Bayelsa State’s male volleyball team and their Rivers’ female counterpart last might at the Main Hall of the Alfred Diett-Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt emerged winners of the first South South Volleyball Open Championships in male and female categories, respectively.

The championship which was sponsored by Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited and facilitated by Federal House of Representatives member, Hon. Dakuku Peterside began on Monday and ended last night.

In the final matches decided yesterday, Bayelsa State’s male team dominated their Rivers counterpart, subduing them three sets to one to cart home the overall winners prize of a giant trophy and the sum of N250,000 prize money.

The Rivers team and Shell Petroleum team which finished second and third also got trophies and N200,000 and N150,000 prize money.

Rivers female team dominated their category, hand three straight sets victories to Bayelsa and Shell teams, the other teams that featured, to win the tournament, while Bayelsa finished as first runner up.

Speaking shortly after the matches, facilitator of the competition, Hon. Peterside described the competition as a success having achieved the three key objectives set ab initio, which were to create awareness for the sport in the region, make the youth redirect their energy to sporting activities for economic benefits and equip the teams for a fruitful outing at the forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival, Eko 2012.

He noted that the teams on show were no push overs and would do well at the sports festival.

On his part the Rivers State Commissioner for Sports Hon. Fred Igwe praised the standard of the games and said that Team Rivers were still on course for success at Eko 2012 despite not winning the male category of the competition.

The sponsor were commended for living up to their social responsibility while other comporate organisations were urged to emulate the gesture.