The Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comr. Philip Shaibu, has advocated for the establishment of state handball leagues across Nigeria in a bid to make handball a major sport in Nigeria.
Shaibu stated this at the final of 2020 National Division One handball league played at the Indoors Sports Hall in Etete, Oredo Local Government Area of the state.
In the final game, Tojemarine Sports Academy of Lagos defeated Police Machine by 18 – 20, in a keenly contested game.
According to the deputy governor, “We need the Handball Federation to make it mandatory for all states in Nigeria to have handball leagues. We should have a state handball league.
“In the past, you cannot qualify to play in the National League, until you qualify from the state league. That is how it used to be and that is what it should be. That is the only way we can truly develop handball in Nigeria.
“You have our support and cooperation in making handball the number two sport in Nigeria. We have entered into a partnership with the Handball Federation and we are ready to see it through so that we can truly revive the game.”
Earlier, Chairman, Technical Committee, Handball Federation of Nigeria, Sam Ocheho, thanked Shaibu and the state government for agreeing to host the tournament for the next four years.
Ocheho said that the competition has exposed a lot of talents to the Federation, assuring that the future of handball in Nigeria is bright.
