Female volleyball coach sure of Maputo gold

Speaking to Feverpitch yesterday at the package B of the Abuja national stadium where the team is training for the games, the coach said with three professional players and over eight members of the team that won gold in the ECOWAS games, he is sure of victory at the games. Coach Odumo hinged his confidence […]

Speaking to Feverpitch yesterday at the package B of the Abuja national stadium where the team is training for the games, the coach said with three professional players and over eight members of the team that won gold in the ECOWAS games, he is sure of victory at the games.

Coach Odumo hinged his confidence on the current performance of his girls and the support they have so far received from the National Sports Commission and the Volleyball Federation of Nigeria.

The coach said at the initial stage, a total of 24 players were invited to camp but the number has been pruned to 16.

He said at any given time, the team’s technical crew can make available names of the 12 players who would represent the country in Mozambique.

For over two months now we have been in camp and preparations have been fine. We had an encouraging preparatory period and so we have stepped up or preparations with the expectations that we are going to do the country proud at the games.

We have won gold and silver in the past in both male and female categories. This is not something new. With the preparations we have had, we are also hoping to do well at the games. Presently, we have players who are playing professional abroad and I cannot have such players without beating my chest with confidence.

Apart from the three, we also have players who are looking forward to playing professional volleyball abroad. We have about five of them to complement what the foreign based are bringing into the team.

He expressed confidence that at the end of the games in Maputo, at least eight of his players would get foreign contracts.

Coach Odumo said apart from the quality of players, the team spirit is really high and the healthy competition in camp will lead to positive result in Mozambique.

The coach in addition said a Nations Cup competition coming up in Kenya would provide the opportunity for him to round up preparations for Maputo Games.