FIVB U-20 Championship: Nigerian Team Gain From Losses – Coach

The coach of Nigeria’s under-20 women volleyball team, Sergey Ovechkin has assured that the team was getting better in spite of six losses from six games.
The coach said his team was with better experience at the end of its 0-3 loss to the U.S in Brno, the Czech Republic at the on-going Women’s U20 World Championship.
The team lost its four Pool D matches in the first round of the championship.
The team lost 0-3 each to Turkey, Italy and Egypt and 2-3 to Algeria, thus finishing bottom of the five-team group.
It has thereafter gone on to lose 0-3 to Puerto Rico and the U.S in the classification matches for positions 17 to 20.
“Today’s (Saturday’s) match was better for us. I feel that our team is getting better with every game of this tournament,’’ the Russian coach said.
He said the 0-3 loss to the U.S was the team’s best game so far in the competition, saying he was satisfied.
“We played our best match of this event so far, and I’m satisfied,’’ Ovechkin said.
Regarding the team’s physical and tactical level, he said the Nigerian players had gained relevant experience.
“I have to say we’ve obtained many experience here in Brno,’’ the coach said.
Speaking also, team captain Mercy Promise said the losses were not a problem as she and her colleagues had learnt a lot.
“We know we lost, but it’s not a problem. From each match we get more experience, because all these teams are playing much more than us and they are with more experience,’’ she said.
The Nigerian team played Thailand last Sunday in their final match of the series.