Former Technical Director of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Tony Oghuma revealed that Reverend Brother Guiseppe Jenevery introduced him to volleyball during his Secondary School education.
Oghuma said the Reverend Brother Guiseppe Jenevery took special interest in his his tall frame at St John’s College Fugar, Edo state.
The former national team coach said, “It was 1968 when I gained admission into St. John’s College Fugar in Edo state for my secondary education. Amongst my teachers was Italian Reverend Brother, Guiseppe Jenevery who noticed my thin but tall frame, introduced me to the game.
“The Reverend Brother was a good volleyball player; he encouraged me that I fell in love with the game at that tender age. Today history has been written in that regard”.
He revealed that former Director of Sports of the defunct National Sports Commission, Isaac Akioye stalled his move to play professional volleyball at AbudHabi Volleyball Club of UAE.
Oghuma said, “I did not play professional volleyball. I was signed by Omar Sport of AbudHabi in UAE but was refused release by the then Director of Sports of the defunct National Sports Commission, Isaac Akioye.
“As a Technical Director of the federation, one of our mandates is to facilitate the releases of players for outside clubs, by creating environment for our players to participate in international competitions where they can exhibit their talents for scouts to sight. Note that we do not send players to clubs”.
He said the federation or coach can only retire a player in his/her peak if there are cases of indiscipline established against the player.
He said, “Neither coaches nor the federation can determine when a Player should retire unless a case of indiscipline is established against the player.
“If any player meets the coach’s technical demands and fits into the coach’s playing format, he or she should continue to play in respective of age. Age they say is just numbers”.
