Sports

Customs, VIP Vipers Sharpen Tactics Ahead of 2026 CGC Volleyball Premier League

Published

2 days ago

October 14, 2026

Joel Ajayi

As the final phase of the 2026 CGC Volleyball Premier League serves off on October 16 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Nigeria Customs Service and VIP Vipers have intensified preparations, with their coaches expressing confidence ahead of the competition.

The teams stepped up their build-up with friendly matches on Wednesday, as the Nigeria Customs women’s team defeated VIP Vipers 3-1, while the men’s side secured a 3-0 victory over the Nigeria Correctional Service team.

Speaking ahead of the final phase, Nigeria Customs men’s team head coach, Jonah Adamu, said the team was determined to build on its performance in the first phase and accumulate maximum points.

Adamu attributed the team’s improvement to the encouragement and support it continued to receive from the Comptroller-General of Customs, as well as the friendly matches organised to help the players improve their performance.

He expressed appreciation to the Customs sports unit for facilitating the preparatory games, noting that the exercises had contributed significantly to the team’s development.

According to him, the team would approach every match with the determination to win, rather than focus on a particular opponent.

“We are not targeting any team; we are targeting the trophy. Whatever team comes our way, we will try to play our best volleyball and secure the maximum points,” Adamu said.

He also acknowledged the competitiveness of the league, expressing confidence that Customs would maintain its momentum in the second phase.

Similarly, the head coach of the Nigeria Customs women’s team, Suleiman Ajeegbe, said the players were ready for the challenge, adding that the team was determined to meet expectations.

Ajaegbe commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the team’s manager, Samuel Ikoko, for their support and commitment to the players’ welfare.

He explained that efforts to provide adequate accommodation, feeding and recovery conditions had helped the players prepare effectively for the demanding competition.

The coach acknowledged that the second phase would be highly competitive, with participating teams expected to improve their performances after the first phase.

He, however, assured that Customs would not relent in its pursuit of the title.

Meanwhile, Head Coach, Vipers and Partners Women’s Volleyball Club, Francisca Ikhiede, expressed optimism that her team would perform better in the second phase, citing the players’ commitment and the support they had received from the club’s sponsors and management.

Ikedhi said the team had been working hard in camp and had set its sights on finishing on the podium.

She added that the players were motivated, confident and in high spirits ahead of the competition.

The coach also said her playing experience with Nigeria Customs would help her guide the young VIP Vipers players, build their confidence and maximise their potential.

The final phase is expected to feature intense contests as teams battle for supremacy in the 2026 CGC Volleyball Premier League.

Beyond competition, the half marathon is expected to promote fitness, community engagement and tourism while showcasing Abuja’s landmarks and scenic routes.

The event also offers Nigerian long-distance runners an opportunity to compete alongside international athletes, improve their performances and prepare for continental and global competitions.

With preparations underway, the November 14 event is expected to bring together athletes and fitness enthusiasts in a celebration of endurance, unity and healthy living, further strengthening Abuja’s reputation as a destination for major sporting events.

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Cyclists, Athletes, Fitness Communities others Set for 5th Chaingang MTB Festival in Abuja

Published

10 hours ago

October 16, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

Cyclists, professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts are set to converge on Abuja for the 5th edition of the Abuja Chaingang Mountain Bike (MTB) Festival and 10th year anniversary of the the club scheduled for November 21–22, 2026, in the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Chairman of the MTB Festival Organising Committee, Mr Olatunji Olanrewaju, said the event would mark a significant milestone in the development of competitive cycling in Nigeria.

Organised by the Chaingang Cycling Club Abuja in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), the festival will introduce Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) race courses, alongside the unveiling of the Sunrise Hills MTB Course in Asokoro, bordering Guzape.

The organisers said the new courses feature natural terrain, steep climbs, rocky descents, switchbacks and panoramic ridgelines designed to challenge riders and promote competitive mountain biking.

The festival, adopted as Nigeria’s national qualifier for international mountain biking competitions, will provide cyclists with opportunities to compete for qualification slots for major championships, with prize money available across race categories.

Olanrewaju disclosed that the festival had attracted several cycling teams over the years, including foreign participants in almost every edition, expressing optimism that the 2026 event would attract even greater participation.

He called on sponsors, government agencies, security institutions and multinational organisations to support the festival, noting that their participation would help strengthen Nigeria’s outdoor sports industry and enhance the country’s international sporting profile.

Also speaking, the Technical Director of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Bashiru Mohammed, described the festival as an important platform for developing cycling and strengthening the country’s cycling community.

Mohammed said the competition was open to cyclists and cycling groups across Nigeria and beyond, adding that the organisers would share information about the event with international partners to encourage wider participation.

He explained that the professional races would feature male and female competitors in the XCC and XCO categories, while the programme would also include activities for children.

According to him, the competition would help Nigerian cyclists prepare for next year’s championship for emerging countries, which he likened to an Olympic-style gathering of athletes from different sporting disciplines.

In his remarked, the CFN Secretary-General of the federation, Joel Akinuwa, said prize money remained an important feature of the festival, noting that participants in the previous edition received financial rewards in addition to opportunities to qualify for the African Championships and other major international competitions.

Akinuwa added that winners across the various categories in the 2026 edition would also receive prize money, providing further motivation for cyclists to compete.

Beyond the elite races, the two-day festival will feature a trail run, children’s mountain bike race, veterans’ recreational ride, city-wide fitness ride and hiking campout.

The event will also incorporate corporate social responsibility initiatives, including the Jigakushi School Restoration Project and the Road Safety Street Mural Initiative, aimed at promoting community development and road safety awareness.

The organisers said the festival would bring together professional athletes, recreational cyclists, families, young people, fitness enthusiasts, media organisations and international observers, while promoting tourism, youth development and community engagement.

They added that the long-term vision was to position Abuja and Nigeria as leading mountain biking destinations in Africa, capable of hosting international competitions and attracting athletes from across the continent and beyond.

Registration for the 2026 Abuja Chaingang MTB Festival is ongoing through the club’s website, www.chaingang.ng.

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