The Nigeria Customs Service release a roster of 28 players for the men’s and women’s teams ahead of the 2024 Comptroller General of Customs Volleyball Premier League in Abuja.
The men’s team will be handled by Jonah Adamu (head coach) and Courage Nehemiah (assistant coach), while the women’s team will be handled by Sunny Akapson (head coach) and Priscilla Agara (assistant coach). Eric Kefas is the coach (supervising) for both teams.
The women’s list consists of highly experienced players like; Helen Umeh, Francesca Ikhiede, Aisha Umaru, Bukky Oluwatosin, and Eunice Ijeagba. Youngster, Ifunanya Udeagbala will be making her debut for Customs Service in the Premier League.
The Customs men recruited six new players in addition to the previous players on the ground.
The Sports Secretary NCS, Samuel Onikeku said the players are not under pressure to deliver in this year’s volleyball league.
Onikeku who doubles as the Team Manager said, “I want to assure you that the teams are not under any form of pressure. The men’s team has been three times consecutive champions, while the women’s team lifted the trophy in 2018 and 2022.
“Our teams are not pushovers in the league, winning the Top 8 championship in early 2022. The Nigeria Customs Service has been representing the country at the African Club Championships in the last eight years where the women’s team placed fourth in 2020.
“We are going to compete fairly, obey every rule and the team will not leave empty-handed at the end of the league”.
“The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi (MFR) believes in togetherness and fair play. You will also agree that collaboration is important in team events.
The team is going to do well, the men’s and women’s teams have been preparing for the past five weeks and I know they will perform well”, he added.
The men’s team will face Kada Kings while the women’s team takes on NSCDC on Monday (26th August, 2024)
FULL LIST
Women:
Helen Umeh (Captain),Francesca Ikhiede (Assistant Captain 1),Tochukwu Nnoruga (Assistant Captain 2)
Aisha Umaru,Enewa Odoh,Maryam Ibrahim
Rafiat Mustapha,Bukky Oluwatosin,Eunice Ijeagba
Magdalene Philla,Kelechi Ndukauba,Ifunanya Udeagbala,Mary John and Bethel Nworie.
Men
Usman Ado (captain),Samson Akinbami (Assistant Captain),Geoffrey Isaac (playing captain)
Emmanuel Udah (assistant playing captain),Patrick Davou,Oluwatobi Oladipo,Emmanuel Uba Stephen
Michael Digil,Arum Ashom,Samuel Augustine
,Godfrey Gambo,Douglas Philip,Princewill Okoi and Kinze Baba-Jerry.
