Former Director-General, National Sports Council (NSC), Mr Al-Hassan Yakmut, has organised a volleyball tournament in Jos to mark his 60th birthday.
The tournament, tagged: “North-Central Volleyball Classic”, has both male and female teams from the seven states in the zone and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the competition on Monday, Yakmut said that the tournament was aimed at further boosting volleyball in the country.
”We have organised this tournament, first to mark my 60th birthday and bring players together to exchange talents.
”Second, this is meant to rejig the game, rekindle the light and sustain it thereafter.
”We have brought teams from states in the north-central zone for this pilot tournament and we will eventually organise another one at national level,” he said
The ex-national volleyball player added that the competition would redefine the direction of the game of volleyball in the country.
He called on governments at all levels to give the game the needed attention, for the good of sports in the country.
Earlier, Plateau Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Victor Lapang, commended Yakmut for organizing the event, adding that it would boost the sporting profile of the state.
He expressed government’s readiness to partner with individuals and organisations towards promoting sporting activities in the state.
The commissioner promised to give N50,000 to the most-valuable player in the competition.