By Sports Editor
Since the creation of Ekiti State in 1996, the game of volleyball had never enjoyed the kind of attention and participation seen at the just concluded maiden Ekiti State Volleyball Championship for male and female.
The volleyball court at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti wore a new look while volleyballers also dazzled in the week long tournament.
Having started a week ago, the curtains fell on the tournament on Saturday with impressive turn out of enthusiasts, friends of the sponsors as well as National volleyball coaches from Ondo and Kwara States.
The female grand prize of 50k went to Achievers Angels volleyball team who edged out EKSU Gladiators at the final while FUOYE Spikers also dealt EKSU Galacticos a huge blow with yet another defeat in the final .
The top three teams in both the male and female categories went home with cash rewards, medals and certificates of participation while outstanding individual players also got special recognition and awards were given to some stakeholders who contributed to the success of the tournament.
Sponosr of the first ever Ekiti volleyball championship, Mr Sinbad Kehinde Olawole thanked all participants, coordinators and old time friends who contributed to the success of the event saying it was a dream come true.
Mr Olawole who noted that government alone could not develop Sports urged private and public concerns to complement government’s efforts to speed up desired development.
The Head Coaches of Ondo State Volleyball and Kwara State Volleyball lauded the brains behind the Ekiti State Volleyball Championship saying it was an ideal avenue to uncover potentials that could represent Nigeria at the continental and international volleyball tournaments.
The Ondo State Volleyball Head coach who also doubles as Nigeria’s Under 17 Volleyball team announced that two outstanding players discovered at the Ekiti State Volleyball Championship have been given automatic and immediate invitation to the National camp opening in Abuja next week.
Head Coach, Ekiti State Volleyball, Soji Farotimi said some of the objectives for organizing the competition had been achieved as several hidden talents came out of their shell to exhibit their potentials.
He assured that the tempo will be sustained in a bid to keep the discovered players together in good shape.
Coordinator of the Ekiti State Volleyball Championship, Kayode Onilearo while thanking the sponsor and all those who showed support one way or the other said he was highly fulfilled to have seen the success and glamour that characterized the tournament.
Onilearo who is now an FIVB Level 1 Certified coach acknowledged the tutelage of veteran coaches within and beyond the State thanked them for their immeasurable contributions to his volleyball career.
The chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN, Ekiti State chapter, Qozeem Oladapo who graced final described the volleyball tournament especially the grand finale as one of the best sporting events he had witnessed since his almost two decades experience in Ekiti State.
Oladapo who spotted some brilliant displays courtesy of some few players applauded the organizers for putting up an electrifying and entertaining tournament that brought out dozens of youths that came engaged in healthy competition through Sports.
He urged the Sports Commission in Ekiti State to strive towards organizing regular sporting competitions to take the teeming youths away from social vices with an assurance to always accord every event deserved publicity.
Oladapo also urged the political class especially members of the National Assembly to invest in sports, procure Sports equipment and sponsor sporting competitions in Ekiti State rather than put everything on the shoulders of the State government.
The just concluded Ekiti State Volleyball Championship featured over 12 male and female volleyball teams with many of them representing the various Higher institutions in the State.
