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… As 51 Teams Battle for Supremacy
By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Over 50 teams comprising 25 male and 26 female teams will participate in the Yenagoa Invitational Volleyball Challenge 2024 from January 29th to February 4th, 2024 at the Peace Park and the indoor hall of the Samson Siasia Stadium Yenagoa.
Convener of the Yenagoa Invitational Volleyball Challenge Major General Taritimiye Ayibakuro Gagariga (retired) gave the hint at a press briefing held in Yenagoa ahead of the championship.
Gagariga said the essence of the championship was for grassroots development with the aim of bringing academy’s and other local volleyball teams together for proper guidance on how things are been done in the elite division of the league.
According to him, the competition is a collaboration between the civil and military relationship with the Armed forces partnering civilian agencies and private organizations to organize sporting events and other activities describing it as the armed forces way of its corporate social responsibility.
He explained that the Yenagoa Invitational Volleyball Challenge will see 51 teams which is made up of 25 male teams, 26 female teams and they will compete in what he described as the outdoor out-court challenge as well as the Park challenge which is an open Invitational challenge.
Major General Ayibakuro Gagariga (rtd) asserted that the Park challenge has 30 teams in the category, saying that the teams were invited to participate in the competition as a way of showcasing what park volleyball is as the category enters its second edition in the championship.
The convener noted that the first place will would go home with three hundred and fifty thousand Naira (350.000.00) with second position also expected to smile to the bank while in the new innovation park volleyball category, the winner will smile home with four hundred thousand Naira (400,000.00) for both male and female.
He pointed out that educational grant would be given to identified volleyballers from the secondary school to tertiary institution which according to him formed the key part of Yenagoa Invitational Volleyball Challenge, stating that cheques of 180, 000.00 to 200.000.00 Naira would be presented to winners on the final day.
He appreciated the Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, for approving the venues, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Defence Intelligence Major General Parker Emmanuel Undiandeye for sponsoring the military aspect of the competition.
Also Coach Augustine Odumo Member of Technical committee who spoke on the tournament format, said four groups have been drawn to play on four courts, adding that from the preliminary stages it would be a league system were all the teams would play to progress to the semi-final while the park volleyball is on knock out bases.
Present at the press briefing were Emmanuel Jatto, member Executive Committee, Coach Augustine Odumo member Technical Committee, Wahab Bajehson member Venue/Protocol Committee, Coach Akapson Yunana member Media/Publicity Committee and George Ameli member/ Media/Publicity Committee.
