National Volleyball Champions, CNS Spikers Present Championship Trophies to Naval Chief

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The national volleyball champions, CNS Spikers Volleyball Club, yesterday, presented the championship trophies to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, in Abuja.

The team which comprises both male and female teams emerged champions at the just concluded 2023 National Division 1 Volleyball League in Owerri and Kaduna.

The male team topped both 1st and 2nd Phases of the National Division 1 league that was played in Owerri, Imo State in June 2023 and in Kaduna in October 2023.

Receiving the trophies from the Director of Sports, Nigerian Navy, Commodore AD Oladekpo, the naval chief, who was represented by the Chief of Administration, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Kenneth Ezete, commended the navy team for its outstanding performance which established the navy in the sport.
“The navy team has done well especially the female team which has excelled like the falcons. The male team has also done a great job”, he said.

He said the navy will not waver in its determination to promote sports while pledging to reward the champions.

He also urged them to also toe the path of academic development.

“As you are engaged in sports, develop yourself along education line so that at a later time in life you will be better positioned”, he said.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Nigerian Navy Volleyball Association and the CNS Spikers Volleyball Club, Commodore Mohammed Muye, said the male team was unbeaten in all the matches played and were crowned champions in Kaduna in October 2023.

“Consequently, the team has gained promotion to play in the Premier League in 2024. The female team also topped the 1st and 2nd phases of the premier league played in Abuja in July 2023 and November 2023 and have been crowned champions of the National Volleyball Premier league 2023.

“It is also pertinent to mention that the male team won five individual awards including the MVP. Likewise, the female won three individual awards including the MVP”, he said.

He recalled that the excellent performance of the CNS Spikers earned firstly, the female team’s participation as Nigeria’s representative at the 2022, African Club Championship in Kelibia, Tunisia where the team defeated some highly rated teams from Ethiopia, Rwanda and Cote d’ Ivoire despite participating for the first time.

“The CNS Spikers male and female teams were again, nominated based on excellent performances to represent Nigeria at the African Club”, he said.