The Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, on Tuesday officially declared the final phase of the 2024 National Beach Volleyball Star/Open Tour open.
Governor Mohammed, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Salis Gamawa, expressed the state’s commitment to becoming a hub for sports in Northern Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Gamawa conveyed the Governor’s vision, saying, “This is the first time Bauchi State is hosting a beach volleyball tournament, and His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed, is committed to prioritizing sports development in the state.”
He continued, “Governor Mohammed is determined to transform Bauchi State into a sporting powerhouse, one that will be the envy of not just other states, but countries across the world.”
Highlighting the state’s sporting achievements, Gamawa shared, “Bauchi State’s women’s volleyball team has already qualified for next season’s Nigeria Volleyball Premier League, while our men’s team has secured promotion to the National Division 1 Volleyball League. These accomplishments are just the beginning of what we hope to achieve in the coming years.”*
The opening day also saw the defending champions, Kada Emeralds, and Nigeria Customs Service secure their first victories in the women’s competition of the ongoing National Beach Volleyball Star Tour.
Kada Emeralds triumphed over Musa Rifkatu with a dominant 2-0 win, securing set scores of 21-11 and 21-5. Speaking after the match, Pamela Bawa said, “We’re thrilled to start with a strong win. We’ve been preparing for this and we aim to defend our title.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria Customs Service defeated Adamawa Queens 2-0, with set scores of 21-19 and 21-9. *“It was a tough match, but our team showed resilience and we’re ready to take on the next challenge,”* said Francisca Ikehidie.
In the men’s category, defending champions Kada Kings battled hard to secure a 2-1 (21-11, 21-23, 15-11) victory against Wikki Spikers. Similarly, Nigeria Customs Service triumphed over Kada Stars with a 2-1 victory (21-17, 20-22, 15-11).
