Team leader of Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Rockets VC, Fortune Bako, says the team hopes to maintain its lead in the Division One men category so as to gain promotion to the Premier league.
Bako stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
She said that the team will not relent in picking up valuable points in the second phase of the 2024 National Division One Volleyball League.
NAN reports that NAF Rockets finished tops with 22 points at the end of the first phase of the just concluded league in Abuja.
Bako thanked the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar for his support in ensuring the team attends the National Division One.
She also thanked the Chief of administration, Air Vice Marshal Idi Sani for his speedy approval for the release of players as well as the Director of Sports, Air Commodore Abanum Magnus for his guidance.
Bako said that mistakes observed during the first phase will be corrected before the second phase.
The leader said that recruitment of players as well as series of training was responsible for the exceptional performance of the team during the first phase of the league.
“I am happy and I think we deserve to be on top of the 2024 National Division One Volleyball League (first phase) because we put in so much effort.
“Series of training were conducted and proper selection of players were done by the coaches through the proper supervision of the Director of Sports.
“Losing 2-3 to LifeCamp VC is not a big deal for us because they were the champions of Division 2 and getting a point from them is a good development.
” Out of 9 matches, we lost only one which was against LifeCamp VC.I feel it was a first step and I am certain we are going to up our game when we meet in the second phase,”she said.
Bako who is also the captain of the women’s team said that the men’s team deserves to be in the Nigeria Volleyball Premier League.
“The results of the first phase will not be a distraction to the players.
“NAF Rockets are four points ahead of LifeCamp after the end of the first phase. It is obvious that we are going to qualify for the Nigeria Volleyball Premier League next season.
“We will not allow the results of the first phase distract us as the coaches will continue to work on the lapses observed,” she said.
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NAN reports that NAF Rocket VC finished with 22 points to occupy the first position on the table.
Life camp of Abuja VC finished second with 19 points, UCEM of Enugu finished third with 16 points while Oluyole Spikers of Ibadan finished fourth with 14 points.
NAN reports that the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVF) has not fixed a date for the second phase of the league. (NAN)
