NAN-S-14
Handball
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, July 6, 2017 (NAN) Handball fans have charged the Sam Ocheho-led board of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) to raise the standard of the sport during their tenure.
The fans told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that while they look forward to the board’s inauguration by the Ministry of sports, much was expected of it.
NAN reports that Ocheho, a board member of the Lagos State Handball Association (LSHA), emerged president after the HFN election held at the National Stadium, Abuja on June 13.
Ahmed Sikiru, an international handball referee, told NAN that it was a good development for the handball family to experience a change of administration after a long while.
Sikiru, who described the election as successful, said that stakeholders were full of expectations that the new board would unfold plans to take the sport to greater heights.
“The new president is grounded in handball and he has promised to deliver. We expect him to bring about conspicuous developments to the game during his tenure,’’ he said.
The handball referee advised the new chairman to carry members of his board and stakeholders along in his administration.
Sikiru also implored the chairman to avoid any actions that could bring about internal crisis and factions, which was detrimental to the success of any administrations.
Also, Samson Samora, a member of the national senior male team, told NAN that he was glad that a committed member had taken the mantle of leadership of the federation.
Samora said that players were ready and would give the newly elected HFN president the support that would make his tenure exceptional and restore the glory of the sport.
“I believe that with Ocheho on board now, things will get better; championships will be regular because it is the heart beat of the growth of handball in the country.
“We are happy with him and we will give him all the encouragement to help him deliver and make handball number one of netball sports in the country,’’ he said.
Speaking in the same vein, Solomon Yola, a handball coach, advised the new president to remain focused and ensure that he listened to administrators that were passionate about the growth of the sport.
Yola also urged Ocheho to focus on organising age-grade championships across the country and ensure that the national league was revived to enhance development of the game.
“Ocheho has passion to develop handball; his championships is now in its third edition and I believe that his success lies in the people who share the same vision with him.
“Most importantly is ensuring that competitions are held at various level and for different categories to regularly appraise players and make competitions part of their career,’’ the coach added. (NAN)
MIL/AOS/PDE
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(Editing by Bayo Sekoni/Peter Ejiofor)