Kwara State’s Director of Sports, Mallam Tunde Kazeem has commended the Sam Ocheho-led Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) for making Nigeria relevant in the sport again.
Mallam Kazeem made the remark while he was receiving four members of the national under 18 female team that recently won the IHF Challenge Trophy in Niamey, Niger Republic.
He praised HFN president and other board members for the new lease of life the handball has now in the country.
He also commended the brilliant performance of the four players Sidiq Muinat Aduke, Nuhu Wuraola Ashyahu, Abdulrasaq Babamale Idowu and Yusuf Muhinat at the Championship.
The national cadet team defeated the host Niger Republic in the final to win gold at the event.
The Director praised the girls for doing the State and the Nation proud which led to the invitations of three other players Olosasa Shukurat, Ibrahim Taiye Balikis and Ibrahim Kehinde Maryam from the State to the National team
He also praised HFN for the opportunity and enabling environment for coaches to get more refresher training on new development in the sport as the
state’s handball coach, Isiaka Atanda go an invitation for the coaches education and officiating seminar scheduled for the twelfth to the fifteenth of this month in Lagos.
He also disclosed that about thirty two players and four officials are to represent Kwara State at the forthcoming National Under eighteen and twenty one Handball Championship scheduled for Lagos beginning from the sixteenth to the twenty third of this month.
Mallam Kazeem charged the players not to relent in their chosen career and strive to excel in the championship.
The Director of Sport appreciated the Chairman and members of the State Handball Association and the Secretary of the Handball Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji Haruna Maigidansanma for their support, encouragement and passion for the development of Handball in the State and the Nation