A volleyball coach in the Federal Capital Territory has called on government authorities and private stakeholders to invest more in grassroots sports development, particularly volleyball, to help nurture young talents.
Stephen Peter, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police and coach of NY Spikers, made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking about the challenges affecting the growth of the sport in the FCT.
According to him, inadequate infrastructure and limited financial support continue to slow the progress of young athletes with promising potential.
He explained that one of the club’s major concerns is the unfinished female volleyball court, which he estimated would require between N8 million and N9 million to complete.
Peter stressed that completing the court would improve training opportunities for female players and encourage equal participation in the sport.
He also pointed out that the rising cost of volleyball equipment has become a heavy burden for the club, which currently depends on personal contributions for survival.
According to him, a single volleyball costs about N150,000, while the club also struggles to provide jerseys, shoes and training kits for its young players.
The coach noted that despite the financial difficulties, the club has continued to produce talented athletes who have gone on to represent Nigeria at both national and international competitions.
He mentioned Rahmatu Ismail and Pamela Bawa as some of the players developed by the club who are now performing at continental level.
Peter said sports remained an important tool for keeping young people away from crime, drug abuse and other social vices through discipline and active engagement.
He appealed to the Minister of the FCT, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to support grassroots volleyball by providing facilities and equipment needed for proper training and development.
Speaking separately, the club captain, Isah Moses, also identified poor sporting facilities as a major obstacle confronting the team.
Moses said the women’s court had remained in a dilapidated condition for more than eight years, adding that about N10 million would be needed for rehabilitation.
He expressed optimism that support from government agencies, organisations and sports enthusiasts would greatly improve the team’s training environment and overall performance.
The appeal highlights growing concerns over the state of grassroots sports facilities and the need for greater investment to help young Nigerian athletes compete successfully on the global stage.