The Volleyball Court of the Alake Sports centre, Abeokuta, venue of the semi final match between Team Ondo and Team Plateau, was electrifying and tension-soaked as both teams took to the court.
The game seem as if it will go the way of Team Ondo as they took the 1st set 25-22, but the never-say-die spirit of the Plateau was awakened in the 2nd & 3rd set respectively, when Team Plateau, went on to win 25-19 & 25-22; before Team Ondo tied the game in the 4th set with a win of 25-22. But Team Plateau surmounted all obstacles to win the 5th set 16-14 to zoom into the final tomorrow against the host team Ogun, who had earlier defeated Team Bayelsa in the first semi final.
The Director of Sports, Plateau State Sports Council, Professor Ezra Gunen, who has watched all the Volleyball matches and was on ground throughout the 5-sets, was elated and declared that he has not seen the best of Volleyball on the for the past 30years but he saw it today.
Prof Gunen, in his words “within the last 30 years, it is today that I have seen the best of Volleyball on the Plateau, by plateau boys, it was an exciting and pulsating match but we are grateful to God that we have emerged winners and we are going to fight hard to take the gold in Volleyball to His Excellency, Gov Caleb Mutfwang, the leader of the ‘Time is Now’ mantra, and the time is now for us to reform Sports on the Plateau; we are really grateful for the players, the efforts they have put in, they have stood out and played for Plateau people, cheers to the team and I wish them goodluck in the final”.
Speaking to ssimedia247.com.ng after the match, the Chairman, Plateau State Volleyball Association, Mr Kevin Auta, appreciated God for His ever presence help from the inception of the board and Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, for appointing the board and supporting them. The chairman equally commended the players for the efforts, sacrifice and for not giving up when the game was not going their way.
An elated Mr Auta, said “sincerely we want to thank God, its not our effort but God’s hand that showed up for us in the game, we really appreciate His presence in the game. And we appreciate everyone that stood behind us especially Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who had stood strongly behind us, he has shown what he can do, we really appreciate him”.
The Chairman, also thanked the Director of Sports, Professor Ezra Gunen, who has always being around during the Volleyball matches and all the Volleyball board members for their support. He said though ” we were anxious but calm all through the game, and we have now qualified for the final, it’s great”.
He equally commended Team Ondo for showing a good fight with a good team that almost defeated Team Plateau.
Also, showing his excitement , the Vice chairman, Plateau Volleyball Association, Mr Joro Anthony, maintained that the game was highly tensed but the tension was surmounted as a result of determination because the players were fatigued as they have not rested from their quarter final which was played yesterday. That it’s been long he saw a match so tensed like this, “as a player in the past, not now, I think because of the prowess of Plateau State in the past in Volleyball cannot be overemphasised, that was what prompted Governor Mutfwang to appoint our board; indeed the game today was highly tensed and as rightly said earlier, there was tension and it was surmounted because of determination of our players, though both teams were fatigued.We thank God Team Plateau showcased the prowess of Volleyball as from time immemorial, Team Plateau experience proved the difference”.
Showing her excitement, a board member and Volleyball enthusiast, Mrs Bolcit Amacree, showed her excitement and stated that ” we have redefined Volleyball on the Plateau and Nigeria, at the Sports Festival, today we have made a statement, since the board was inaugurated, we were given a matching other by Governor Caleb Mutfwang and we promised to come back with a medal, gold to be precise; and today, I am proud to say that all volleyballers on the Plateau and diaspora, when they heard of the ‘Time is Now’ mantra, they decided to come back and pay homage to the state, and today, we are one step from fulfilling that dream; thank you so much Ogun State, thank you Plateau fans for the support, a very big thanks to our professionals for coming back home to contribute their quota for us to redefine Volleyball on the Plateau”.
In his reaction, the captain of the team, Ogwuche Samuel, gave glory to God for the victory, as he maintained that it wasn’t an easy one, all of them were tired as there was no enough time for them to rest but they are here to make a statement, so fatigue can’t be a barrier to their victory in the final. Ogwuche said ” I give glory to God on behalf of the team, it was not an easy game for us from the beginning and you know , we just played our quarter final yesterday and playing the semi final today, there’s no time for us to rest but we give God the glory and thankful for the victory; we are here to make a statement and we are one step away from the gold”.
The final match holds tomorrow between Team Ogun and Team Plateau. Earlier, Team Ogun defeated Team Bayelsa to set up a final match with Team Plateau. However, the 3rd placed match between Team Bayelsa and Team Ondo by 11AM.
Credit: Nathaniel Mobolade, SSIMEDIA, Gateway Games
