By Joel Ajayi

The much-anticipated Olympic Solidarity Technical Course for Coaches officially kicked off on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B, Abuja, marking another milestone in Nigeria’s drive to raise the standard of Beach Volleyball coaching across the country.

A total of 25 coaches from various regions of Nigeria are taking part in the six-day intensive training, which runs through November 8, 2025, at the High-Performance Centre of the stadium.

Declaring the event open, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, represented by NOC Project Officer, Olaniyan Rofiat Omodolapo, described the course as a vital initiative for developing technical expertise and promoting excellence in coaching according to international standards.

 “Beach Volleyball is more than just a sport — it is a discipline that instills physical fitness, mental strength, respect, and self-control,” she said.
“This course marks a significant step in empowering our dedicated coaches to perform their roles with greater professionalism and excellence.”

According to her, the Olympic Solidarity (OS) programme was carefully designed to provide coaches with the essential knowledge, tools, and techniques to train athletes effectively and ethically in line with FIVB and Olympic Movement standards.

Participants will undergo theoretical and practical sessions covering modern coaching methodologies, the philosophy and rules of Beach Volleyball, and practical, on-court exercises.

Group discussions and collaborative projects will also form part of the programme, promoting peer learning and professional networking.

 “By engaging experienced experts, Olympic Solidarity ensures that participants receive high-quality training,” Olaniyan noted. “Ultimately, this course will help strengthen the coaching structure within National Federations and NOCs, ensuring long-term development of the sport.”

She expressed appreciation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIVB, and Olympic Solidarity for selecting Nigeria as one of the beneficiaries under the 2025–2028 Olympic Solidarity Quadrennial Plan, adding that the NOC remains committed to promoting the Olympic ideals through impactful educational programmes.

“To all participants, I urge you to make the most of this opportunity — absorb as much as you can, share your experiences, and leave here better equipped to nurture the next generation of Beach Volleyball athletes,” she concluded.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engr. Musa Nimrod, said the course, organized in partnership with the NOC under the Olympic Solidarity initiative, represents a significant milestone in the federation’s ongoing efforts to grow volleyball nationwide.
 “This course is very, very important, especially as it is taking place in collaboration with the Nigeria Olympic Committee. The Olympic Solidarity support is vital to us, and we truly appreciate the IOC under this initiative,” Nimrod said.

He highlighted Nigeria’s impressive record in Beach Volleyball, particularly among women’s teams, noting that the country has maintained a top-three ranking in Africa for the past 16 years.
“Nigeria has been doing very well in beach volleyball, especially our women. We’ve never dropped below the top three positions in Africa — either first, second, or third — which shows our strength and consistency,” he added.

Nimrod expressed optimism that the training would help Nigeria discover and develop new talents ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
“For some time, Nigeria has narrowly missed out on Africa’s single Olympic slot, often finishing second. We believe that with programmes like this, things will change. The training will help us identify and nurture more players who can compete internationally,” he said.

He also noted that the new NVBF board is prioritizing grassroots development across the country, especially in the South-South and South-East, where emerging talents have already begun to make their mark.

 “Recently, our female players completed national training, and our young boys from the South-East won bronze at the African Schools Games — a great achievement against more experienced opponents,” Nimrod said.

The NVBF president charged participating coaches to make full use of the opportunity and contribute meaningfully to the sport’s development.

“This will be an intensive five-day course. It won’t be easy, and it’s up to the coaches to make the most of it. In the past, some went home waiting for government support instead of taking initiative — that won’t be tolerated anymore. The NOC has done its part, and we at NVBF have done ours. Now it’s time for coaches to act and make volleyball in Nigeria truly great again,” he declared.

FIVB Instructor, Javier Bosma of Spain, commended the organization and expressed high expectations for the success of the course.

“Expectations are always high. I can feel strong support from the Federation and the NOC, and I see excellent participation, which tells me this course is going to be very successful,” Bosma said.

He described the training as another critical step in the continuous growth of Beach Volleyball in Nigeria.

“This is a very good step — or rather, another step — in the ongoing development of beach volleyball here. Nigeria has great potential and the opportunity to reach the top level in Africa. Programmes like this will help strengthen that position and open more doors for players to represent their country on the world stage,” he concluded.

Bosma, who last visited Nigeria nearly a decade ago, expressed delight at returning and praised the enthusiasm of both participants and organizers.

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