NAN-S-10
Volleyball
Abuja, Oct. 14, 2016 (NAN) The male volleyball team of the Army Headquarters Garrison (AHQ) on Friday in Abuja clinched the bronze medal of the event at the ongoing Nigerian Army Sports Festival.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the game played at the Package B, National Stadium, saw AHQ defeat their 82 Div., Enugu counterparts 3-1 at the end of a pulsating encounter.
AHQ came into the game with seven points, having won two, sharing one and losing one match in the round robin stages, while their opponents had yet to win a match.
Therefore, anything short of a win would have jeopardised AHQ’s chances of a podium finish as 1 Div., Kaduna on 6 points still had a game to play.
Thus, AHQ knew what was at stake and started the game on the front foot, taking the first set 25-17.
They, however, lost steam in the second stanza and surrendered the set to a rejuvenated 82 Div. side 13-25, for a 1-1 score line.
AHQ nevertheless, came out strong in the third and fourth set as the team’s setter, Mohammed Mohammed combined very well with the outside hitter and captain, Aliyu Abu whose barrage of strikes were effective.
They thus, took the last two sets 25-23, 25-14 to clinch a well deserved bronze medal.
“We are very happy to have finished third. It wasn’t an easy feat as my boys were under pressure right from the beginning of the game.
“We also underrated the ability of our opponents and paid dearly for it in the second set.
“But I spoke to my players after the first two sets to be calm and enjoy the game.
“I was glad they played to my instructions and that was key to our victory,’’ Coach Zulu Kana said.
In another game played earlier on Friday, 2 Div., Ibadan, walked over 3 Div., Jos, to settle for the silver medal after winning four and losing only one match to finish on 12 points.
81 Div., Lagos having won all four matches so far and amassed 12 points will take on 1 Div., Kaduna with six points for the gold medal.
NAN reports that the sports festival which kicked off on Oct. 8 will end on Oct. 15. (NAN)
VO/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)
