David Anyaele, the President, Nigeria Sitting Volleyball Federation on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government and non-governmental organisations to support the Federation in holding its national championships.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Federation has planned to hold its national championships on December 3, which has been named the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Anyaele told NAN in Abuja on Thursday that lack of funding has been the major problem confronting the Federation, and this has been hindering it in organising its activities.
He said: “Only four states participated in the maiden sitting volleyball championship under the leadership of the Federation’s former president, Rilwan Mohammed.
“But now we are expecting about 10 states to participate in this year’s edition. We had a demonstration event of the sport in Abuja on September 25, and we believe this has helped more in popularising the sport.”
Anyaele said the maiden edition of the national championships was held at the Abuja National Stadium, in conjunction with the Paralympics Committee of Nigeria on December 3, 2016.
He said: “Now we are working hard to make this year’s event more interesting for participants and spectators.
“We are therefore appealing to the Federal Government, through the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, to support us with funding.
“We also appeal to private organisations, philanthropists and lovers of volleyball to support us, because this is the only way we can raise funds and make the game popular.”
The NSVF president praised Musa Nimrod, the President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation for his achievement of ensuring they successfully organised the just-concluded premier league.
He said: “We also need support from NVBF, to assist us in our championship.
“We heard about the success of the premier league last weekend, and we need them to put us through in some aspects of the game since we are under the federation.
“We will not disappoint them.”
NAN reports that sitting volleyball, also known as Paralympic volleyball, is a form of volleyball for athletes with a disability.
The sport entered the Paralympic Games as a demonstration sport for athletes with amputations in 1976 in Canada and was played as a medal sport thereafter.
In sitting volleyball, a 0.8 metre-wide net is set at 1.15 metres high for men and 1.05 metres high for women.
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