Lagos set for maiden sitting volleyball championship

Lagos is set to score another first by hosting the maiden Legacy Sitting Volleyball Championship at the Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere. The event starts tomorrow.

Secretary-General of Nigeria Sitting Volleyball Federation/Nigeria Paravolley Federation, Ademola Johnson, in a statement, said the championship is being organised in conjunction with Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC).

Sitting volleyball is a form of volleyball for athletes with disability. As opposed to standing volleyball, in sitting volleyball, players must be sitting on the floor during the game.

Johnson said the championship is an invitational tournament and first of its kind billed to help develop sitting/paravolley sport in Nigeria. Director of Para Sports Department, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Peter Nelson, also said the championship is a meaningful developmental process towards popularising sitting/paravolleying, amongst other para-sports. He also applauded the sponsors for supporting sitting volleyball.

“This tournament will create an opportunity for reuniting and interaction among stakeholders and unveiling of the new Nigeria Paravolley Federation Referee Association, the Nigeria ParaVolley Coaches Association and other tools that will keep the federation working.

“Interestingly, the three invited teams from states’ sitting volleyball associations from Kaduna, Bayelsa and Lagos have reassured the federation of their participation in the maiden edition,” he said.

Chairman of Legacy Volleyball Club, Lagos and board member, Lagos State Volleyball Association, Kayode Ladele, promised that the backlog of four years unpaid yearly affiliation subscription fees of category “C” worth Euro 220 per year, would be offset. He