*As Shell team wins 2019 volleyball tournament
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Shell Spikers of Port Harcourt has emerged winner of the 3rd edition of Country Chair/MD SPDC- Invitational Volleyball Tournament for 2019, organised by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC.
The Shell Spikers emerged winner after beating City Spikers of Bayelsa to 3-1 in four rounds at the finals in the male category, while City Spikers of Bayelsa won the first position after trouncing Shell Spikers in the female category, to clinch the N1million cash prize.
Speaking to newsmen, SPDC General Manager, External Relations, Mr. Igo Weli, disclosed that the tournament was part of its activities to help the country advanced its performance in sports.
Weli explained that 18 teams from eight states namely, Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo, Anambra, Ondo, Oyo, Enugu and Abuja participated in the 2019 edition, in both the male and female categories.
“This is SPDC annual volleyball tournament. We have been doing this for some years now, particularly we always have some national teams playing in this tournament. This is also helping the country to keep the national team active and also helping to identify new talents that can join the national team.
“So when you talk about contribution to the society, this is also one important way. Of course, we are having fun because it is sport. We have teams today from Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo, Anambra, Ondo, Oyo, Enugu and even Abuja participating in this tournament.
“So you can see almost the entire Nigeria volleyball national teams are here. This is one of the key event in our calendar every year.
“We do this because we believe it helps us to be at our best and also create an opportunity for the country to also advanced its performance in terms of sports.
“We have alot of facilities here, we have hosted the super eagles here and several sports teams here, because we own the facilities here and we make it available to the country, for Nigerians to use it and advanced themselves in terms of sports.”
The SPDC External Relations boss further explained that the company also have similar tournaments for other sports such as golf, football, lawn tennis, etc, pointing out that volleyball remains an exciting game.
He said the company encourages its staff to participate in sporting activities as it was essential for one’s overall well-being.
“We have several sports sections in our Shell club here. We have golf, football, volleyball, lawn tennis, swimming, etc. This is just volleyball, so we also have tournaments from other section, where we have stakeholders from outside coming in to participate.
“Having said that, there is something special about volleyball, it is a game that is full of joy, energy and form. It also helps us to showcase the good sides of Nigeria and Nigerians, that we have talents, wonderful people, we know how to catch fun and we can also compete at the highest levels in sports.
“This also about health and wellbeing, it is our value preposition to make sure our staff are healthy. So we also want them to participate in sports because it is good for the body, mind and mental wellbeing.”
Also speaking, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Efeoghene Ori-Jesu, disclosed that about 200 volleyball players participated in both the male and female teams in this year’s edition.
“The teams in attendance include City Spikers of Bayelsa (male and female), Shell Spikers (male and female), Trailblazers of Bayelsa (male and female), Shell Elite(female), Baton Spikers of Owerri(male and female), Master Busters of Nnewi(male).
“Others are, Dynamic Spikers of Anambra (male and female), Sunshine Spikers of Ondo(male), New Waves VBC of Ibadan(male), Sonmfo VBC Abuja (female), Total Angels (female), and the University of Nigeria Nsukka Volleyball team(male and female).”
At the end of the competition, City Spikers of Bayelsa was given N1million cash prize in the female category, while Shell spikers and Trailblazers of Bayelsa who emerged second and third position, got N500,000 and N300,000 respectively.
Similarly, Shell Spikers got N1million in the male category, while City Spikers of Bayelsa and Trailblazers of Bayelsa who emerged second and third position went home with with N500,000 and N300,000 respectively.
