VOLLEYBALL: Men’s National Team Coach Vows To Clinch AAG Ticket

As preparations intensify for their Zone 3 Men’s All Africa Games (AAG) Qualifiers, head coach of Nigeria’s senior volleyball team, Japhet Nuhu has expressed confidence that the present crop of national team players will excel at the tournament which holds from May 17 to 25 in Abidjan.

Nuhu, speaking from the team’s training camp in Kaduna, alluded to the players being in very high spirits and declared that the team would prove doubters wrong and secure a berth at the AAG in Morocco later this year.

“I believe the set of players in camp for the All Africa Games Qualifiers will succeed. The pressure is high, some believe we cannot perform but we will prove doubters wrong.

“The level of preparations is in top gear and the players are in high spirit,” Nuhu who also doubles as head coach of Niger Brass, said.

He revealed that the country was on the cusp of a revolution in volleyball with young talented volleyball players set to come on the scene, but also added that the path to sustaining a vibrant national team lies in crafting policies deliberately targeted at investing in the younger generation.

“Anyone that has the young generation in mind means that he is building for the future. The present administration has a future for volleyball in Nigeria that is why we are ensuring we encourage the younger players.

“Most of the younger players will be representing Nigeria at the World Championships and of course they need exposure and working. That is why we feel they should be part of the All African Games qualifiers preparations.”