Jonathan David Thaj known as ‘Coach Thaj’ of the Kaduna State Volleyball team to the 2024 Asaba Youth games said the future of the beach volleyball in Nigeria is good as more states participated in this year of the youth games in the event, Sports 247 reports.
The Kaduna based coach who also doubles as the national team coach spoke with Sports247 after he guided Kaduna State team to win the gold medal in the outdoor beach volleyball.
This is team Kaduna’s third consecutive gold medal win in volleyball at the National youth games.
Team Kaduna defeated Team Anambra in the girls outdoor event final while the boys got the silver medal after they lost 2:1 to Team Delta State.
For the indoor volleyball, Team Kaduna female lost to Team Anambra while the male team did not qualify to play in the final.
Coach Thaj took pride in saying “Kaduna is the home of volleyball. Even at the national sports festival in Delta State two years ago, Team Kaduna senior male won gold in outdoor beach volleyball while the female won Silver.”
Coach Thaj pointed out “This is the most competitive National Youth Games beach volleyball I have ever witnessed as 13 states were fully represented in both male and female category.
I believe the awareness of beach volleyball is going viral in Nigeria and I hope to see more states represented in the national league.
The future is good and I am impressed with how beach volleyball is growing in Nigeria. Beach volleyball will liberate us from so many things in volleyball”, Coach Thaj told our correspondent.
Coach David Thaj speaks further on how the country should tap the numerous young talents discovered at the games, he gave assurances that the President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engr Musa Nimrod will soon open the camp for further developments.
“Our president is a lover of youth, he will invite them to camp very soon to come and display. If we can catch these young ones at this young age, Nigeria will benefit from their talent.
Our president believes in the youth volleyball and believes the players would build the game from somewhere”, Coach David affirmed.
