NAN-S-3
Games
By Victor Okoye
Jos, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) The male and female volleyball teams of the Ministry of Information and Culture on Wednesday made it three wins from three at the ongoing Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA) in Jos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that FEPSGA, which began on Nov. 23, is expected to end on Dec. 3.
FEPSGA, which is in its 35th edition, saw the number one seed, Information and Culture male volleyball team, drawn against Team Niger Delta, National Assembly and National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Group A.
The Information and Culture team assembled by Coach Christopher Odhomi was ruthless, sweeping all its opponents by two straight sets to emerge winner of Group A.
They trashed Team Niger Delta in their opening match 25-5, 25-7, while first timers, National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) were humbled 25-5, 25-6.
Team NOA was also not spared as it was thrashed by the 2015 silver medallists who won 25-3, 25-4.
The team’s victory was largely due to a barrage of spikes from its hit men, Godwin Sam and Abraham Robo, whose thunderous strikes frequently ripped through the opponents’ porous defence.
Also, the team’s reliable setter, Emmanuel Oteta, delivered his passes with precision, catching the opponents off-guard on several occasions.
In the female category, Team Information and Culture, which could not participate in last year’s Games in Owerri due to paucity of funds, was drawn in Group C.
Its opponents were number four seed, Ministry of Agriculture and its Defence counterpart and the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
Like its male counterparts, the Information and Culture female team dominated its group also, defeating its opponents in straight sets to emerge winner of Group C.
The 2013 gold medallists lived up to expectation as they beat opponents in Team Agric. 25-10, 25-15 and defeated their Defence counterparts 25-12, 25-16.
Team FCC which made its debut in the Games was not spared as it lost 6-25, 8-25 to a formidable Information and Culture side.
The team’s victory was also largely due to sporadic combinations of powerful front and back attacks from the duo of Chichi Godwin and Esther Effiong which the opponents found difficult to handle.
Also, the team’s Setter, Sekinat Ibrahim, played a vital role in the team’s overall success, displaying some exceptional volleyball skills which earned crucial points for the 2013 champions.
The Ministry of Information and Culture volleyball male team will now lock horns with the runners up of Group C in the quarterfinals.
The Group comprises of 2013 champions, National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, National Emergency Management Agency, Ministry of Water Resources and Youth and Sports.
Their female counterparts are expected to clash with the runners up of Group A which comprises of defending champions, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), NOA and National Museum and Monument. (NAN)
VO/HAS/PDE
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(Edited by Hajia Sani/Peter Ejiofor)