The coach and founder of Core Play Volleyball Academy in Abesan Estate, Lagos, Ekanem Yellow Duke has set in motion a strong drive that will help her get a sponsor for her annual competition among under-17 boys and girls in the area.
Sports247 gathered that the former volleyball player, who has a strong passion for the game and still gets involved in recreational games, has kept her youth development competition going for three years with her personal funds.
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Coach Ekanem revealed in a deeply emotional interview with Sports247 that, despite her limited funds, she is not relenting in her efforts with the academy and the competition, because her love for volleyball continues waxing strong.
However, Ekanem further disclosed that she does not like to dwell on her past as a volleyball player, because she prefers to be seen as a youth developer who is looking into the future by building on talents of the present.
“I’m now concentrating more on my coaching work with children, and I no longer emphasise on my past as a player. To me, the level up to which I played the game is not really important.
“I don’t want to dwell on accolades about what I did as a player in the past. I just consider myself as a normal volleyball lover who was opportune to play the game.
“That I played volleyball up to the level that I could was actually a privilege for me. For now, I’m just a coach trying to encourage young ones in my community,” the soft-spoken Ekanem retorted.
The ‘Volleyball Lover’ then provided details of her annual under-17 competition, which she revealed attracts kids from outside Abesan Estate, but she wants to expand it beyond its current scope, so that it begins gaining attention all across Lagos State and beyond.
“I’m looking for sponsors to support both my academy and the competition. It has not been easy running things with my personal funds.
“Though Samaritan’s Feet, an organisation in the United States, helped me kick-start the academy with equipment, balls and kit for some of the kids at their yearly camp, I need more sponsors to help me expand my reach and impact.
“There’s also an under-17 competition that I host every year. We’ve done it for the past three years – for boys and girls within Lagos. I’ve done it for three years without a major sponsor.
“Getting funds to run the competition has been very hectic; but I do my best in running around to meet up. I just believe that, as the years go by, more help will come.
“I sincerely believe that I’ll be able to reach out to other people, meet more stakeholders and get better collaborations to expand my cademy and the competition,” Ekanem enthused.
