NAN-S-11
Handball
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, Jan. 30, 2017 (NAN) Fidelis Obi, a former Head Coach of Niger State Handball Association, has urged to the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) to updated its technical officials on the sport’s latest developments.
Obi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone on Monday that the courses were necessary because the country did not participate in continental and intercontinental activities in 2016.
NAN reports that the HFN was banned by the Confederation of Africa Handball (CAHB) in June 2016 for non-payment of participation fee in the African Men’s Handball Championship in January 2016.
“Apart from the Men’s Championship last year, which caused our ban, we did not take part in other international championships and that left us not fully formed.
“We take advantage of the championships organised by CAHB to get updated on latest rules because some of the events come with refreshers courses usually held before the competitions.
“The ban which has been lifted is commendable but the federation needs to use this first quarter to organise comprehensive refresher courses for its coaches and referees,’’ he said.
He said that such courses were necessary as it would broaden the training skills of the technical officials in preparing wide-ranging schedule for players under their watch.
According to him, there are programmes by the HFN in 2017 and it is only through adequate build up that team and players can pull their weight.
“The federation must prepare the ground for technical officials to take off, lots of rules have been introduced by the global ruling body and we must follow suit.
“Any coach that wants to make meaningful impact in the skill of his athletes must prepare a rich training programme to guide him in putting the players in top shape,’’ he said.
The coach advised the HFN to invite resource persons from the international body who are conversant with the current rules to pilot the courses and to create platform for increased participation. (NAN)
MIL/IKU/PDE
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(Edited by Tayo Ikujuni/Peter Ejiofor)