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Niger: a New Volleyball Revolution
The Nigerian Volleyball Federation (FENIVOLLEY) has to
fight very hard, and this since several years, in order
to develop Volleyball and Beach Volleyball in the
country. This fight is not useless: the purpose would be
reached if young players developed gradually their sense
of belonging to a team, if they acquired a spirit of
collective play and if they could defend their colors
better, through these sports they love so much.
It is 1989 that a fundamental law regulating teaching
and organization of physical and sporting activities was
born in the school establishments of Niger. The
Volleyball, which is a collective sport, was immediately
retained and made unanimity near the young students. But
this program has been, very quickly, confronted to
economic problems. Without sufficient finances or
appropriate material (balls, nets, etc.), it is not
possible to enter in the norms of big competitions…This
huge handicap made Nigerian players almost impotent.
Confronted to such difficulties, the FENIVOLLEY, under
the presidency of Mr. Sidiyane Amada, decided to grab
the bull by the horns, with the collaboration of the
Ministry of Sports and the French Cooperation. She
initiated training to young people inside and around
school middle, so that these athletes could continue
improving themselves and participate to competitions
organized in the entire world. The Niger counts today a
dozen of training centers for young people in the
capital, Niamey, and about sixty others divided in the
different areas of the country.
They quickly noticed that young Nigerians revealed a
very advanced technical level and that it was really
unfair not letting them practice a sport they have been
defending with pride for such a long time.
The organization of solidarity tournaments and the help
of different national federations permitted FENIVOLLEY
to progress and Volleyball to develop itself in an
increasing number of areas through the entire country.
Dr. Rubén Acosta, President of the FIVB, has provided a
large support to this African country, notably by
regularly supplying new material and by allowing its
players to freely participate to big competitions, like
World League (men) and World Grand Prix (women), in the
future. Besides, Dr. Acosta has received a medal of
honor, from the President of CAVB, Mr. Amr Elwani,
during the 29th FIVB World Congress in Porto, Portugal,
this, in gratitude, for his efforts in favor of the
sport development, throughout his 22 years at the
presidency of the International Volleyball Federation.
Volleyball and Beach Volleyball are living an
extraordinary development in Niger since about three
years. The country has welcomed a few theoretical and
practical training courses. At the end of March, one of
them has been crowned by a demonstration tournament
which has been so favorable that the National Committee
of Organization of the 5th Francophone Games (in
December 2005, in Niamey), has adopted Beach Volleyball
as an animation sport during these Games…
This is happy news which makes the pride of Nigerians
and the entire FIVB! |
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