At least more than 200 volleyball players under the age of 18 are expected to report at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna for the national open camp slated to hold between Wednesday 31st May, and Sunday 4th June, 2023.
According to the organisers, the camp will be used as an avenue to select players who will represent the country at the 2023 African U17 Boys and Girls Nations Championship scheduled to hold in Nigeria from 6th to 16th July 2023.
The Technical Representative on the board of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Chief Martin Melandi, said the camp will afford the Federation to create a level-playing ground for players from different parts of the country. He nonetheless cautioned academy and state coaches to avoid releasing overaged players for the open camp.
“The Federation has a policy that encourages equity and fairness in the selection of players for the national teams. We are trying to select the best hands that can make the country proud ahead of the African U17 Boys and Girls Nations Championship to be hosted by Nigeria in July.
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“I am making an appeal to all the coaches in the various academies and states not to send players over the age of 18 years old. I am aware the National Youth Games is a platform where children under the age of 15 participate and I have seen younger players feature in the Division 1 and 2 Leagues respectively.
“Players who will be participating in the Division 1 and 2 Leagues are exempted from the open camp as coaches will be sent to select more players leagues in Imo State. The Federation wants to set a standard where we can be sure of parading younger players who stand the test of time in the next decade.”
Melandi, a former international national referee, however, commended board members of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVF) for coming up with the idea of the open camp.
