Charkuma dreams Olympic ticket

The female volleyball squad is due to resume build-up March 20 in Benin City, ahead of the qualifiers which hold from May 6-18 in Tokyo, Japan.

Speaking with nigeriasports.com at the weekend in
Lagos, Charkuma expressed hope that his wards would be able to pick one of the two tickets in contention at the event in the Far East, adding that circumstances beyond the technical crew's control had cost Nigeria the only available slot at the last African Championship in Kenya.

He explained:” The competition in Kenya was not difficult, our team lost because of psychological problem not technical. Kenya had the crowd behind them all the way such that it was difficult for us to pass instruction to our players and umpires did not even hear us when we called for time out.

"Notwithstanding, we still have a formidable team, technically and tactically. Our chances are bright because the players are determined to make up for the disappointment in Kenya, they actually cried in
Kenya. Now we have another opportunity."

The Nigerian women volleyball team is dominated by players in the local league who won gold at the 2003 All Africa Games in Abuja.

The team is billed to slug it out with teams from South America and Asia at the qualifiers in Tokyo.

 By Dipo Okubanjo