VC.
The 1st phase of the 2023 National Division 1 and 2 Volleyball Leagues is scheduled for 2nd to 13th June in Owerri, Imo State.
Faremi told www.aclsports.com that preparations are in top gear adding that the team is ready to take on their opponents in the men’s and women’s categories.
She said, “I am happy to announce to the people of Kwara State that Olalomi Royal VC will feature in the National Division 1 League in the women’s category, while the men’s team will make their debut in the National Division 2 League both taking place in Owerri, Imo State.
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“The teams are preparing hard for the leagues; they are in the competition mood and the club has played a series of friendlies with teams within Kwara State to mentally prepare them for the leagues.
“It is not easy as a private club to register and participate in the forthcoming leagues in Owerri Imo State. More funds are needed to foot the bills of our accommodation, feeding and the most challenging is transportation; Olalomi Royal VC is open to support from well-meaning Nigerians.”
The FIVB Level 1 coach said expectations are high to deliver but she will not put pressure on her players.
She added that the leagues are an opportunity for her to showcase some of her players as well as bring her wealth of experience gathered from the national camp and FIVB coaching course.
She said, “I am expecting my players to give their best in the Division 1 and 2 Leagues. I want to showcase these players to the Nigeria Volleyball Federation; it is like giving them feedback because I have been honoured to be called to national training camps several times. So I have combined all this new knowledge and I am willing to put them into practice in the coming leagues.
“My expectations are high but I will not put my players under pressure. I am focused on them doing the right thing on the court and getting the best results. Special thanks to the board of Nigeria Volleyball Federation led by Engineer Musa Nimrod for giving me the opportunity of getting called to the national camp as a coach”.
The Offa-born coach revealed that funding has been a major bane of the newly formed side as they struggle to attend the volleyball leagues.
She explained to www.aclsports.com that she has to pay the tuition fee of the young players as a means of encouraging the players to attend training.
She said, “It is not easy to manage the club/academy; I founded Olalomi Royal Volleyball Club. I have to convince the parents of the players before they give approval for their children to play volleyball. I pay the school fees of some of the players and provide training materials just to encourage them to love the game in order for their parents to release them to train.
“Some of the players have to hawk after school and it’s affecting their participation. Olalomi as an academy tried to provide for their basic needs in order to take them off the streets.”
“Fund has been a major challenge for us in participating in some of the competitions because we do not have major sponsors. During major championships, we always source financial support from philanthropists and lovers of sports; they have helped in their own way.
“Some of the philanthropists who always come to our rescue include; Adekunle Sadiq Foundation, Prince Babatunde Omisore (South West Zonal Rep NVBF), Hon. Rotimi Illiasu (Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Kwara state), Offa Descendants’ Union (ODU), Mr. Bola Ogunla, the Faremi family and many others I cannot mention”, she added.
