The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Volleyball Team, CNS Spikers (male team) has maintained its long-term winning streak as the winner of the first phase of the National Volleyball Division 1 League in Owerri, Imo State.
The team recently defeated all the teams with 3 – 0 win margin. In the last match, the CNS Spikers defeated Nigeria Correctional Service Team 3 – 0 (25 – 20, 25 – 21, 25 – 19) at the indoor hall of Dan Ayiam Stadium on Saturday 10 June 2023. Speaking during the competition, the representative of the CNS, Chairman Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Volleyball Association, Commodore Aliyu Pindar commended the players for maintaining the unbeaten run in Division 1. The remarkable performance of the CNS Spikers team is attributed to the immense support of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo CFR which has enabled the team to participate and gain exposure across Africa over the last 18 months.
Speaking further, Commodore Aliyu Pindar noted that the level of motivation enjoyed by the team from the CNS over time resulted in the overwhelming feat recorded at Owerri. He assured the Federation that the second phase of the league will witness better performance from the going by excellent unbroken records by the team in local and international competitions. It is gladdening to note that the team played a total of 16 matches; 12 in the Division 2, and 4 in Division 1 without dropping a set. Commodore Pindar assured the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) of the team’s resolve to make the country proud in all competitive games be it, local, regional or international appearances. Pertinently, the team at various competitions showcased themselves creditably; the male team won the Kontagora Championship in March 2023, while the female team came 2nd in the tournament in which 37 teams in Nigeria participated. In addition, the team won the Most Valuable Player for male and Best Setter male at Kontagora.
In May 2023, the female team was nominated by the NVBF to represent Nigeria at the Africa Women Volleyball Championship in Kelibia, Tunisia. It would be recalled that the CNS Spikers Volleyball teams were the only volleyball club that represented Nigeria in the 2023 African Club Volley Championship held in Tunisia. The teams were commended for the international recognition accorded Nigeria for sporting activities having emerged 7th and 9th positions in the female and male categories among the 15 Final Standing participating teams. Although it was the first appearance of CNS Spikers Volleyball Club in such international championship, the team defeated some highly rated teams from Ethiopia and Cote D’voire at the tournament. It is also on record that the CNS Spikers team broke the 38 years’ jinx of Armed Forces of Nigeria volleyball teams not attaining levels deserving of representing the nation at international championships.
The Nigerian Navy under the able and astute leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo CFR pledges to continually support and contribute to the development of sports in the country for the overall good of our great nation.