origin of ABULA sports IN BAYELSA STATE
After the creation of Bayelsa State in Year 1996, and the Bayelsa team took part in Imo 98 national festival where the game of Abula was declared scoring, the then young volleyballers having the zeal to make an extra impact in a sport of Abula, having the same similarities in jump, net height, and attacks then entered in the next edition of the festival which was hosted in Bauchi “Tagged” Bauchi 2000 and elimination played in Calabar. Bayelsa State entered in the three (3) categories of male, female and mixed double the coached by Bittee Braah. Bayelsa state gained qualification in mix double, thereby announcing their presence in the game of Abula at the mundial at Bauchi. With the Bauchi festival not being as impressive in medal won by the Abula mix double team which was bronze, the Bayelsa State Abula team still needed to make a more better impression felt and in Edo National Sports Festival 2002, the team again qualified in the male category and came out more better in result and a step higher than Bauchi 200 with a silver medal with notable names like Coach Bittee Braah, then head coach, Nelson Ngonabo, Gloria Ijighere, Inatimi Lele, Henry Opuene, Late coach Christian Udogwu, Ruth Opuene, Yemi Bucknor, Patience Touremi, Angela Douglas, Stella Brizimo (late), Moudlyn Sawari (late), Assam Sunny, Eferebor Tiger, Kuro Okorowanta, Michael Omede, Nasiru Paul, Yemi Mayuku, and host of others. These were the heroes,though some are late now.
PAST CHAIRMAN/ EXECUTIVES
The emergence of the game of Abula in Bayelsa State cannot be written completely without the inclusion of the volleyball players who form basically crops of players who were part of the then travelling team of Abula at Bauchi 2000 and thanks to the then coach who was a volleyballer too then became the Abula Head Coach for Bauchi 2000. Because the bulk of players that qualified the team for Bauchi 2000 were 95% Volleyballers, the then volleyball chairman Mr. Famous Daunamigha threw his weight for Team Abula to also Qualify for Bauchi 2000. Abula on its own has never had its individual Chairman, rather all the traditional games have been operating as one body (Association). Thereby recognizing the present Federation President, Chief Olomo Agbadabina who is from Bayelsa State as the Chairman.
Notable names of athletes that participated in the Bauchi 2000:
- BITTEE BRAAH (COACH)
- INATIMI LELE
- ASSAM SUNNY
- INABRAH HENRY
- PATIENCE TOUREMI
- BEAUTY ANAMUKOT
- MOUDLYN SAWARI (LATE)
- STELLA BRISIMO (LATE)
- ANGELA DOUGLAS
- RUTH OPUENE
- EFEREBHO TIGER
- CHRISTIAN UDOGWU (LATE)
- TOINPRE BERENA (SECRETARY)
