A member of Nigeria’s gold medal winning team in the sitting volleyball event of 1st West Africa Para-Games in Abeokuta, Lucky Chidozie Ekwuribe has thanked organisers of the tourney for providing a platform that helps physically challenged talents overcome impairments.
Ekwuribe told Sports247 in an exclusive interview at the Rock City venue that Gateway 2025 has turned out to be an avenue through which athletes who would have been left to suffer in the shadows of life got many opportunities to showcase themselves.
He also described Nigeria’s gold medal feat in the sitting volleyball event as a huge step forward and historic mark that will be recalled in many years to come.
The highly vocal para-athlete enthused, “We are happy that we won in what was actually the first African competition that we participated in. Winning the gold medal is a plus to our history and a very good achievement in our archives.”
He then went on to heap a load of accolades on administrators and officials of sitting volleyball in Nigeria, even as he disclosed how they have encouraged the players in multiple ways, especially technically.
“We actually have a very wonderful federation. At a point when things were rough, they gathered us and encouraged all of us. We had different lectures with facilitators from outside the country coming to teach us about the game.
“So, I do deeply appreciate God for the people we have in charge of sitting volleyball in Nigeria. I pray that God will still give us more people and such good leaders to keep on guiding us,” Ekwuribe supplicated.
The smooth-talking gold medalist concluded with more words of gratitude, as he thanked organisers of the first para-games on the West Coast for bringing up an avenue through which physically challenged athletes can express their talents and shake off disability tags.
“I also want to thank the organisers of this competition very much. They have given we para-athletes an opportunity to show what we have. They have helped us to display that particular gift we have from God.
“The’ve helped us show the quality which our impairment might have limited us from doing and we are able to express our talents. I deeply thank the organisers for giving us this platform to express ourselves and showcase what we can do,” Ekwuribe reiterated.
