A former female volleyball national team star, Ekanem Yellow-Duke is currently working hard to groom Nigeria’s future heroes in the sport by training kids at Abesan Estate, in Ipaja area of Lagos.
Sports247 reports that, while the former player still looks fit and trim, as if she is still playing actively, the mother of two stressed that she prefers grooming future volleyball stars instead of rubbing shoulders with younger players in a team.
That line of thought led her into forming CorePlay Volleyball Academy in 2022, following which she already has many promising boys and girls growing up under her technical guidance.
The graduate of zoology from University of Lagos recalls how she learnt the basics of volleyball as a student of Command Day Secondary School, Oshodi, hence her enthusiasm in the task of grooming talented kids from the age of five to 18.
Yellow-Duke recalled: “I played for so many teams in the Nigerian Volleyball League. I moved regularly from one club to another because I like to hustle. I even played at the National Sports Festival.
“I finally decided to stop playing, because I felt that was the best way to help younger players get opportunities. Coaches and selectors would keep on overlooking them if I’m still playing. I had to leave for them to achieve.”
She went on to reveal how her passion for volleyball emboldened her to seek support from individuals and corporate bodies to put her youth development efforts in place at Abesan Estate and posited that the project has already achieved a lot.
“I actually set up this academy in 2022, but it was only last year that I went for a course at the NIS. That made me a trained and qualified coach – which I took as my calling all along.
“My love for coaching made me stop playing early in my career, and I opted out so that I could give room to new faces that were coming up. I then started coaching kids.
“I first started training students in schools like Vivian Fowler and others. I then thought it wise to return to my roots. I had a very strong passion to start something in Abesan Estate.
“I currently run a free academy, which is made possible mostly through the support that I get from an NGO named Samaritan Feet Youth Volleyball Programme. They help me with equipment and in running an annual camp.
“The camp normally takes place during the holidays. It’s a solid venture through which we spot talented and exceptional children; some of whom are now in university,” Yellow-Duke concluded.
