2025 CGC Volleyball League: Nigeria Customs Unveils New Men’s Team Captains, Coordinators

Published

7 months ago

July 30, 2025

Joel Ajayi

National senior men’s team player Philip Akande has been named the new captain of the Nigeria Customs Service VC ahead of the 2025 Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Volleyball Premier League.

Akande will be assisted by Emmanuel Udah (1st captain) and Princewill Okoh (2nd captain), while Godfrey Isaac and Usman Ado were appointed coordinators of the team.

In a statement signed by Samuel Onikeku, head of sports NCS, 18 players have been selected to play for the service after two weeks of intensive trials.

Onikeku explained that the reshuffling of the team is to ensure the NCS compete for honours in this year’s league after failing to finish on the podium last year.

He said, “I want to thank the previous leadership for the dedication to the team having won the national leagues three times and the Super Cup held in Lagos a few years ago.

“Some of our star players have gone into coaching, while others retired due to other commitments and this necessitated the move to appoint new leadership for the team.

“Ahead of this year’s CGC Volleyball League, Philip Akande has been appointed captain of the team to be assisted by Emmanuel Udah and Princewill Okoi.

“We believe that their appointment will usher in a new beginning for the men’s team and enable them to compete for the trophy this season.

Onikeku charged the players to continue to uphold the virtues of the service and be good ambassadors wherever they meet themselves.

“To the selected players, I want to implore you to give your best to the team, and make the service proud.”

Share on Facebook

Toptier Sports Management Brings New Energy, Reform to Nigeria National League

Published

2 days ago

February 24, 2026

The Gleamer

For years, the Nigeria National League (NNL) has been described as a reservoir of raw talent, competitive, passionate and unpredictable, yet often constrained by structural and commercial limitations.

As the second stanza of the 2025/2026 season starts, a new wave of optimism is sweeping through the league, powered by a renewed partnership with investors, Toptier Sports Management.

At a strategic kick-off session held ahead of the resumption of the season, Toptier Sports Management and the NNL leadership mapped out an ambitious vision designed to strengthen the league’s governance, enhance its visibility and unlock its commercial potential. For many stakeholders, it signaled more than routine planning. It felt like a reset.

Toptier Sports Management, investors in both the NNL and the Nigerian Women Football League, has been working closely with league management to build governance frameworks that prioritize sustainability and operational excellence. The emphasis has been on laying solid foundations, including clearer compliance systems, stronger administrative structures and transparent processes capable of supporting long-term growth.

Beyond governance, the reforms are practical and visible. Toptier has begun investing strategically in indemnities, digitization, broadcast production and branding, areas that directly affect clubs, players and fans. The digitization drive aims to modernize league administration, while improvements in production and branding are already reshaping how the league is perceived.

One of the clearest signs of change is the introduction of live match coverage by Team 33 Production. Recent fixtures at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena in Lagos, including First Bank Lagos versus Abakaliki FC on February 20, Inter Lagos versus Crown FC on February 21, and Sporting Lagos versus Godswill Akpabio FC on February 23, were broadcast live, giving clubs and players a visibility boost that had long been desired.

Discussions during the strategy session also focused on the highly anticipated NNL Super 4 tournament, a critical event in determining promotion outcomes.

For players striving for top-flight promotion, for clubs seeking credibility and for fans eager for a more professional product, the changes represent something tangible. The NNL is no longer content with being just a stepping stone. It is positioning itself as a properly structured competition in its own right.

Share on Facebook