Volleyball: Sunshine Spikers, Plateau Rocks emerge champions of Regional Unity Cup

 

Sunshine Spikers of Ondo and Plateau Rocks are champions of the men and women's category of the just concluded 2022 Regional Unity Invitational Challenge Cup in Oloru, Kwara State on Friday.

Sunshine Spikers defeated New Waves of Ogun State 3-2 (27-25, 12-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-11) in the men's final while Plateau Rocks pummeled young Niger Raven 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-17) at the Government Secondary School (GSS) Oloru, Moro Local Government Area.

The Captain of Sunshine Spikers, Daniel Nathaniel commended his teammates for not giving up in the fourth set.

The National team player said, "I am happy Sunshine Spikers won their first trophy in 2022; this trophy will inspire us to play better this season".

Coach of Plateau Rocks women's team, Rakiya Mohammed expressed happiness beginning the 2022 volleyball season with a giant trophy.

The assistant coach of the National U18 Girls team said, "Some of the girls that played the finals are still in secondary schools. I tried an experiment of blending the few senior players and young players at the challenge cup and it worked. This is the revival of Plateau Rocks women's team in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Sponsor of the Challenge Cup, Engineer Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu told newsmen that he is impressed with the turnout of players, coaches and spectators.

Engineer Iliasu said the 3rd edition of the Regional Unity Invitational Challenge Cup was made possible by Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq who is an advocate of youths in government.

The Kwara State Commissioner for Works and Transportation said, "I am happy with the turnout of National team players (Junior and Senior) and young volleyball players playing on the same court. The game of volleyball has come to stay in my home town and next year’s challenge cup will be bigger.”

In the third place matches, Oloru Super Stars beat Nile University 3-1 (27-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-14) to settle for bronze medal in the men's category while Oloru Super Angels defeated Legacy VC 3-1 (25-14, 25-16, 21-25, 25-13) to snatch the bronze medal.

Independence Cup: Kwara Professionals set to jump tax against KWIRS

It will be Kwara Internal Revenue Service, KWIRS against the Kwara Professionals in the final 2021 final of Independence Cup slated for Friday, October 1 in Ilorin.

The football final which was to celebrate Nigeria's 61st Independence Anniversary was also put together to emphasize the importance of freedom to people.

To qualify to the final, Kwara Professionals defeated Kwara State chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN by three unreliable goals while the defending champions, KWIRS got the better of the Kwara INEC by 5-3. 

Indoor Hall of Kwara State Stadium will host the final that will also see the participating teams engage one and another in the Table Tennis event. 

The Brain Behind the program, Shogo Shodunnke disclosed that the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is expected to grace the final along with other top government officials. 

KWIRS won the last edition of the Independence Cup held in 2019 by defeating Nigeria Medical Association, NMA in the final.

The Independence Cup is organized by Phreestyle Sports with the support of Kwara State Sports Commission.

Kwara Ladies meet Sports Commission board, call for support

The Kwara State Sports Commission board have reaffirmed their commitment to Female Football development in the state of Harmony during a visit by the management of Kwara Ladies Football Club.

Chairman of the Commission, Bola Mogaji applauded the visit and commended the  Chairman Kwara ladies, M.J Daudu for his doggedness towards the development of female sports.

He explained the rationale behind having a female member on the board of the commission which is to create a level playing ground for all genders while calling on female active participation in sport programmes and appealed for collective effort and collaboration.

In his own remarks, Director General of the commission,  Dr. Steve Olarinoye described M.J Daudu and Nigeria Association of Women In Sports (NAWIS), Kwara Chapter as a crucial element of Sports development in the state.

While reacting, M.J Daudu, congratulated the Bola Mogaji led Commission board for their new mandate towards improving sports system.

He also thanked the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq and his administration for their keen interest in sports.

Daudu thanks the Government of Mallam Abdulraham Abdulrasaq through the ministry and Sports Council for allocating office for  Kwara Ladies in the stadium, he also requested running cost like Kwara United to tackle challenges and noted products of the clubs have represented  Nigeria U-16 team.

The Chairman urged Bola Mogaji led board to support the club to meet the international standards in preparation of the new season.

Nusirat Popoola Yekini
Kwara Ladies Media Officer