President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) Musa Nimrod has revealed that Nigeria will take part in the second edition of the 2019 FIVB Snow Volleyball World Tour which is scheduled to hold from 1st to 4th August, 2019 in Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina.
Nigeria’s team to the tournament will be made up of Beach volleyball players including Tochukwu Nnoruga, Francisca Ikhiede, 2015 All Africa Games Beach volleyball gold medallist, Isabella Langu, and Amara Uchechukwu.
Nimrod said the board of the NVBF took the decision to send a team to the tournament as part of their drive to boost the popularity of volleyball in the country and encourage more people to take up the sport.
Addressing the team which will be representing the country in Argentina, Nimrod expressed confidence in their ability to make a do well just as they did at the World Beach Volleyball Championships in Hamburg, Germany earlier in the year.
“The Nigeria Volleyball Federation is taking a huge step as we will be participating in the 2019 FIVB Snow Volleyball World Tour. Few months ago, we took part in the World Beach Volleyball Championships in Hamburg, Germany and made positive mark there,” Nimrod said.
“I have confidence in this team and what you are capable of doing. Volleyball is one of the greatest known unifying factors among our peoples across different boundaries, and success at the tour will help to further solidify our unity in the federation and country at large.”
Speaking further, the president of the NVBF revealed plans for the country to participate in more tournaments in line with the federation’s “mandate” to “to reposition volleyball” in the country.
And in line with that aim, Nimrod implored corporate organisations to explore ways of partnering with the federation to ensure the growth and development of the sport.
“We have decided to take these unprecedented steps because it means a lot to the board of Nigeria Volleyball Federation as one of our mandates is to reposition volleyball in the world; as well as make it one of the most popular sports in Nigeria”.
“I, therefore, call on corporate organizations and other sponsors to assist us in prosecuting some of our programs. The country will be attending the 2019 CAVB Zone 3 Nations Cup in Ghana and the U19 team will also attend the World Championships in Tunisia in the month of August; all these we have to attend if Nigeria wants to remain relevant in the game of volleyball”
Cameroon and Nigeria will represent the African continent at 2019 FIVB Snow Volleyball World Tour.
