Coaches, players commend organisers of World Para Volley training

The World Paravolley Level 1 course kicked off on Aug. 22 and ended on Aug. 28 at the Nigeria Institute of Sports (NIS) Gymnasium Complex, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The programme had three Instructors from Uganda, Libya and Egypt sent by the World Para Volley with 15 coaches across the country and 18 referees in attendance.

The weeklong activities had teams involved in practical session where selected players were pitch against each other to assess the response level of the coaches’ and referees’ skills and techniques.

Also, there was a special clinic in and outside the court where participants were taken through the rudiments of the game at the Volleyball court, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere Lagos.

The Technical Director of the Nigeria Paravolley Federation (NPF), Priscilla Agera said that the course was organised to create more education about Paravolley.

“It’s easy for a volleyball coaches and referees to be converted but the rules of volleyball and to the Paravolley are quite different because of the physically challenged athletes,” she said.

An invited Sitting Volleyball Coach from Ghana, Seidu Ajanako said that the course would go a long way to developing the sport in Ghana and Africa.

“I was invited by the federation to participate in the Level 1 Course in Nigeria. The course is a beginner’s level, but a high level one.

“The instructors are top notched especially Dr Mosaad

Mostafa from Egypt who is an experienced and world respected coach who has traveled wide.

“Right now, we have the tools, and know the rules of the game which will help us to develop ourselves.

“I am sure that the course will go a long way and help with the development of the game in Ghana and Africa by extension,” he said.

A Referee, Oluwarantimi Agboola told NAN that the experience at the weeklong programme had been insightful.

“I have learnt a lot during the programme with all we need to know about Sitting Volleyball under the Paravolley sport.

“The experience has been fantastic as our various instructors did well to make the Level 1 Course easy for us, we are taught the rudimentary of the game.

“Also, the difference between the normal volleyball and Sitting Volleyball were exposed because both games though similar, have some rules differently,” she said.

The participants at the Level 1 Course were awarded a Diploma certificate at the end of the training.