Age restrictions for athletes have ignited controversy after Emma and Wankru were dropped from the Thailand Volleyball League 2026 roster.
On 6 Jan 2026 GMT+7, amid the controversy, Angthong Sports University Volleyball Club posted on their official page: “The club apologizes to fans following the news that these two young players might not be seen on or off the court in the Thailand League 2026 season.”
“For reasons unknown, this season is effectively over for our club. It's not that we aren't fighting, but we don't know what to fight for when rules change arbitrarily, documents are flawed, and players lose their eligibility. Sponsors are hard to come by, so please consider this,” the club added.
According to the Volleyball Association’s regulations, teams cannot have more than three players under 18 years old on their roster. The club revealed that two promising young players were disqualified for exceeding this quota: Emmanuel Ojeaga (Emma), a 14-year-old Thai-Nigerian with a height of 187 cm, and Kannika Boonrod (Wankru), also 14 and 186 cm tall. Both were excluded from competition this season.
This situation has divided opinion. One side argued, “The rules were established before the pro volleyball qualifying challenge. Why didn’t the club thoroughly check player eligibility before submitting the roster?”
Others questioned, “Why does the association limit athletes’ ages when the Thailand Volleyball League is the first platform for young players to develop toward the national team? The association’s policy aims to create opportunities for all Thai youth to showcase their potential, yet these rules contradict that goal.”
Angthong Sports University Volleyball Club clarified that the removal of the two players was due to their age and was not intended to harm the organizers or the association. The social media post was simply to apologize to fans who hoped to see the players compete this season. The club expressed regret for any misunderstanding caused.