Joel Ajayi
A total of 25 coaches are participating in the six-day Olympic Solidarity Technical Course for Coaches, which officially commenced on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B, Abuja.
The course, focusing on Beach Volleyball, is being held at the High-Performance Centre of the stadium and will run through November 8, 2025.
Declaring the event open, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, represented by NOC Project Officer, Olaniyan Rofiat Omodolapo, described the course as a vital platform for building the capacity of local coaches in line with international standards.
“Beach Volleyball is more than just a sport. It is a discipline that instills physical fitness, mental strength, respect, and self-control,” she said.
“This course marks a significant step in empowering our dedicated coaches to perform their roles with greater excellence and professionalism.”
According to her, the Olympic Solidarity (OS) programme was designed to equip coaches with the essential knowledge, skills, and tools to train athletes effectively and ethically in accordance with FIVB and Olympic Movement standards.
Over the next few days, participants will undergo intensive theoretical and practical training covering modern coaching methodologies, Beach Volleyball rules and philosophy, and hands-on technical sessions. The programme will also include group discussions and lectures aimed at encouraging collaboration and critical thinking.
“By engaging experienced experts, Olympic Solidarity ensures that participants receive high-quality training while promoting peer collaboration and professional networking,” she added. “Ultimately, this course will strengthen the coaching structure within National Federations and NOCs, supporting long-term progress in sport.”
She further expressed appreciation to Olympic Solidarity and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) for selecting Nigeria as one of the beneficiaries under the 2025–2028 Olympic Solidarity quadrennial plan.
“We are especially grateful to the IOC for its continued support, which enables us to deliver impactful training initiatives like this. To all participants, I urge you to make the most of this opportunity — absorb all you can, share your experiences, and leave here better equipped to develop the next generation of Beach Volleyball athletes,” she concluded.
Speaking during the opening session, President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engr. Musa Nimrod, emphasized that the course, organized in collaboration with the NOC under the Olympic Solidarity initiative, is a major milestone in the Federation’s efforts to raise coaching standards nationwide.
“This course is very, very important especially as it is taking place in collaboration with the Nigeria Olympic Committee. The Olympic Solidarity support is vital to us, and we truly appreciate the IOC under this initiative,” Nimrod said.
He highlighted Nigeria’s consistent success in beach volleyball, particularly among the women’s teams.
“Nigeria has been doing very well in beach volleyball, especially our women. In the last 16 years, we have never dropped below the top three positions in Africa. We’ve always finished either first, second, or third — which shows our strength and consistency,” he noted.
Nimrod expressed optimism that the programme would help the country identify and nurture new talents ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
“For some time, Nigeria has narrowly missed out on Africa’s single Olympic slot, often finishing second. We believe that with programmes like this, things will change. The training will help us discover and develop more players who can represent Nigeria in international competitions,” he said.
He further explained that the new NVBF board is focusing on grassroots development across all regions, especially the South-South and South-East, where several young players are emerging.
“Recently, our female players completed national training, and we also saw young boys from the South-East win bronze at the African Schools Games — a great achievement against more experienced opponents,” Nimrod stated.
He urged the participating coaches to take the course seriously and apply the knowledge gained for the growth of volleyball in Nigeria.
“This is going to be an intensive five-day course. It won’t be easy, and it’s up to the coaches to make the most of it. In the past, some went home and waited for government support instead of taking initiative — that won’t be tolerated anymore. The NOC has done its part, and we at NVBF have done ours. Now it’s up to the coaches to go out, work hard, and make volleyball in Nigeria truly great again,” he charged.
As for FIVB Instructor, Javier Bosma from Spain, expressed optimism about the course and praised the level of organization and participation.
“Expectations are always high. I can feel strong support from the Federation and the NOC, and I see excellent participation, which tells me this course is going to be very successful,” Bosma said.
He described the training as another important step in the continuous development of beach volleyball in Nigeria.
“This is a good step — or rather, another step — in the ongoing development of beach volleyball in Nigeria. The country has great potential and the opportunity to reach the top level in Africa. Programmes like this will help strengthen that position and open doors for Nigerian players to represent their country on the world stage,” he added.
Bosma, expressed delight at returning and commended the enthusiasm of the participants.
