Sports

Nigeria Customs clinches gold at 2024 National Beach Volleyball Star Tour

Published

11 months ago

November 16, 2024

… men’s team wins 2nd position

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) women’s beach volleyball team has emerged victorious at the 2024 National Beach Volleyball Star Tour, held in Bauchi.

The NCS women’s team, led by captain Tochukwu Nnoruga, triumphed in an intense final match at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, overcoming the Kada Emeralds 2-1 in a gripping contest.

The final scoreline of 19-21, 25-23, 15-9 reflected the determination and resilience of the Customs team, who were unbeaten throughout both the first and second phases of the Star Tour.

Despite losing the opening set 19-21, Tochukwu Nnoruga and her partner, Francesca Ikihide, displayed remarkable teamwork and grit to recover, taking the next two sets in thrilling fashion to clinch the championship.

In a post-match interview, Samuel Onikeku, the Sports Secretary of the Nigeria Customs Service, expressed his pride in the team’s performance and highlighted the significant role played by the leadership of the NCS in their success.

“This victory is not just a reflection of the hard work and skill of the players, but also the continuous support we’ve received from our leadership. We are very proud of our women’s team, who have shown exceptional resilience and teamwork,” Onikeku stated.

Onikeku also extended gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi MFR, for his consistent backing of the team as well as dedicating the trophy to the CG and his management.

“We owe a great deal of this success to the leadership of the Comptroller General, who has been a pillar of support for the team. His commitment to ensuring the growth and development of sports within the Nigeria Customs Service has been invaluable,” he added.

The victory not only solidifies the NCS women’s team’s dominance in the competition but also signals the growing prominence of beach volleyball in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the NCS men’s team also delivered an impressive performance, finishing second in the Star Tour.

Though they were narrowly edged out in the final standings, their efforts were commendable, and they remain a team to watch in future tournaments.

Onikeku said the victory serves as an important milestone in preparation for the final phase of the Nigeria Volleyball Premier League, where the NCS teams, both men’s and women’s, are expected to compete for more trophies.

“This triumph in the Star Tour is just the beginning. It’s part of our broader preparation for the upcoming phase of the Nigeria Volleyball Premier League, where we are aiming for even greater success and more trophies,” Onikeku emphasized.

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Sports

FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification

Published

17 hours ago

October 5, 2025

The Gleamer

Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums

Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.

Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.

In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”

He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.

“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”

Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT

Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.

“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.

Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.

“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”

The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.

He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development

As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.

“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”

Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.

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