As the President of the Legacy Volleyball Club at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Joy Atam Ezenwa, shared her insights and enthusiasm about the upcoming annual volleyball tournament.
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While the club has been in existence since 2005, Joy recently assumed the role of president, despite being an active member for years.
Joy’s passion for volleyball has been a lifelong journey, beginning in her secondary school years over two decades ago and intensifying during her university days. However, she never considered pursuing a professional career in volleyball, primarily viewing it as a hobby.
Speaking with Sports247, she explained her perspective, stating, “I saw it as a hobby from the start and didn’t consider earning money from it. In Nigeria, it’s only been about 4-5 years since we started making a significant impact in volleyball. We’ve played volleyball for fun, participating in events like the NUGA Games and festivals.
But beyond that, in Nigeria, we didn’t really have a platform to showcase our talent. Recently, volleyball players have been invited to international tournaments, and we have gained some visibility. I think that’s one of the reasons I never pursued it professionally. Volleyball is not widely known yet in Nigeria, which is why I still play it as a hobby.”
Joy provided details about the upcoming annual volleyball tournament scheduled to commence on Thursday, September 21st, at the Teslim Balogun Volleyball Annex. This year, the tournament differs from previous editions, lasting for a shorter period, from Thursday to Sunday. Teams from both near and far are invited, with 12 male teams and 7 female teams confirmed.
She stated, “For now, it is more of teams from the South-West, but the players are coming from far and wide because it is a game that people love. We try to merge them. While we can’t invite as many teams as we’d like, we aim to foster a sense of camaraderie and network-building among the participants. We can’t know it all. To an extent, we still need to learn different skills from each other.”
Regarding the tournament’s success, Joy highlighted changes in prize distribution. This year, they aim to award cash prizes to the teams, emphasizing the economic difficulties that many face. This gesture is intended to motivate and support the teams, recognizing their expenses and sacrifices.
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She elaborated, “This year, we’re not making provisions for camping the players, but accommodation arrangements will be made for teams coming from outside Lagos.”
As the president of the club, Joy acknowledged the challenges and expectations that come with her role but expressed her commitment to effecting positive change. Her focus is on creating a legacy and ensuring the club’s continued success under future leadership.
