26th June, 2012
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, of FCT handball Championship, Bala Mohammed, has said that Abuja cannot afford to give up its leading role in handball development in Nigeria especially in the area of grassroots development.
The tournament, which is currently going on at the Abuja Old Parade ground, is featuring five male and three female teams.
Mohammed said: “Right now, FCT has over 20, 000 active handball players and possibly this could account for low social vices among youths in the nation’s capital. We cannot relent in our efforts to keep the youths off the streets and make handball the leading game in FCT and Nigeria as a whole.”
According to Mohammed, the competition will serve as a selection ground for players that will represent FCT handball team in the forthcoming National Sports Festival scheduled for Lagos State later in the year.
The LOC boss, who is also an Assistant Coach of Handball Federation of Nigeria, HFN, disclosed that interest groups and sponsors have identified with the competition.
“What people will see in this year’s tourney is an improvement from what we witnessed last year. The quality of teams and support we have gotten so far are clear indications that we are not giving up our leading role in handball development in the country,” he said.
Male teams taking part in the competition include Safety Shooters (FRSC), Defenders (Civil Defence), Key Boys (Nigeria Prison Service), Unity Boys (FCT Handball male Team) and the guest team, Owena Kings (Ondo Handball Team), while the female teams are Safety Babes (FRSC), Defenders (Civil Defence) and Unity Girls (FCT Handball female team).