By Ikenna Nwokedi
UNIZIK Spikers Volleyball Club and Refiners Volleyball Academy Onitsha has emerged champions of the male and female categories of the 2024 ‘Anambra Volleyball Showcase’ competition.
The competition which was bankrolled by a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Barr. Uzoma Eli was held from Saturday, 21st to Monday, 23rd December 2024 at the Sports Arena of Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka with 17 Volleyball clubs comprising of 11 Male and 6 Female sides.
To emerge Champions in the female category, Refiners VCA defeated BV Hoppers of Adazi-Nnukwu by 3 sets to 1 (25-19, 25-22, 20-25 and 25-20) to claim the top prize of 200 thousand naira while BV Hoppers settled for the sum of 150 thousand naira with UNIZIK Queens VC who came third after defeated Desperate Eagles VC by 2 sets to 1 (18-25, 25-17, 15-10) in the third/fourth placed playoffs going home with the sum of 100 thousand naira.
In the male category, UNIZIK Spikers VC of Awka saw off BV Hoppers by 3 sets to nil (25-16, 25-13, 25-14) to take the top prize of 200 thousand naira with BV Hoppers going home with the sum of 150 thousand naira while Refiners VCA who came third after seeing off Dominican VC by 2 sets to nil (25-17, 25-20) got the sum of 100 thousand naira.
In the individual awards for the female category, Stephanie Nwadinobi of Refiners VCA emerged as the Best Setter, Amara Uchechukwu of BV Hoppers was adjudged the Best Blocker, Dumebi Ahadinuno of Refiners VCA claimed the Best Setter award while Francisca Aisha Ogumelu of UNIZIK Queens was voted as the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
For the male category, Emmanuel Ani of UNIZIK Spikers VC was the Best Spiker, Tochukwu Ibezimaka of Dominican VC was voted as the Best Blocker, Obiora Anachuna of UNIZIK Spikers VC was the Best Setter while the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award went to Ikechukwu Ofodile of Refiners VC.
Reacting after presenting the prizes, the sponsor, Barr. Eli congratulated the winning sides and all the participating teams who featured in the three-day sporting program. The former legislator disclosed that the ‘Anambra Volleyball Showcase’ has come to stay and the next edition will be much more bigger.
On his part, Patrick Estate Onyedum, Chairman of the Anambra State Sports Development Commission (ASSDC) eulogized Hon. Eli for his support and contributions towards the growth of the game in the state. Onyedum stated that Hon. Eli deserved to be commended hugely for aiding the development of the game, he called on other well meaning individuals in the state to borrow a leaf from his exploits geared towards taking sports to the next level in the state.
HighPoints of the occasion was decoration of the winning teams with their prize monies, commendations from various sports afficionados who witnessed the closing ceremony and photo sessions between the winning teams and the competition sponsor, Hon. Barr. Eli.
