The Super Spikers Volleyball Club men’s team emerged champions of the 2025 Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Volleyball Challenge on Sunday, defeating defending champions Karu United Volleyball Club in a thrilling 3-2 final.
The epic showdown, held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, saw the Lugbe-based Super Spikers come from behind twice to claim a hard-fought victory with set scores of 20-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-21, 15-9.
Voice of the people (VOP) reports that the tightly contested match delivered on expectations, with both teams showcasing impressive skill, strategy, and determination throughout.
Karu United took the early lead by claiming the first set 25-20. However, Super Spikers responded with grit and composure to level the match in the second set. The third set saw Karu regain momentum, but the Spikers bounced back in the fourth and fifth sets to secure the championship.
Coach Afolayan Olabanji of Super Spikers expressed immense pride in his team’s performance, especially after finishing seventh in the 2024 edition of the tournament.
“I’m proud of my players for their resilience. The match was intense, but they stayed focused and enjoyed the game. I told them we could do it—and they delivered,” he said.
He attributed the team’s victory to divine favour and commended the organisers for the smooth execution of the event, particularly the use of both indoor and outdoor courts.
Club Chairman Chukwuka Oliobi also hailed the team’s achievement and encouraged them to maintain unity, consistency, and focus moving forward.
“Consistency is key in sports. We’ll continue training hard and pushing for excellence in future tournaments,” Oliobi said.
Karu United’s Head Coach, Patrick Samuel, acknowledged the competitiveness of the game, adding that sometimes, the outcome hinges on more than just preparation.
“My team gave everything, but we fell just short. Volleyball is unpredictable. We’ll regroup, correct our mistakes, and come back stronger,” he said.
In the third-place match earlier, Defense Spikers from Mogadishu Barracks defeated Legend Spikers of Kubwa in straight sets (25-19, 25-23, 25-20) to claim the bronze medal.
According to NAN, the tournament featured a total of 53 teams—men’s and women’s—across several days of competitive play from April 30 to May 4.
