NAN -S-2
Handball
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, May 20, 2017 (NAN) Akinsanya Akinde, Coach of Mindscope Handball Academy, Ogun, has commended the Lagos State Handball Association (LSHA) for staging a tournament for secondary schools.
Akinde disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday after team Ogun lost by 5-7 to team Lagos in a friendly match.
The tournament was tagged ‘Opeifa Cup’.
“It’s a well organised competition, which is also commendable. In spite of our defeat, we are still happy for the privilege and honour to participate.
“Sometimes, it’s not all about the team that emerges winner or suffers loss but the exposure given to the players and opportunity of competing outside their station.
“So, for us the visiting team, we have gained a lot and going home with joy, and as a coach, I will modify my programmes to improve my player’s skill.” Akinde said.
The coach said his team would appreciate more of such invitations, which would help to strengthen the players and prepare them for interstate competitions.
Abdulsalam Kabiratu, captain of team Lagos, said that the match between her team and the Ogun team was an eye opener for them to brace up.
Kabiratu said that the match as tough encounter because the visited team were equally abreast with the game requirements and were all out to win.
She added that the invitational match was a good initiative and that such should be incorporated as part of events in subsequent edition to widen the scope of the tournament.
“Thank God that we won, because it will not be good that they came to beat us in our home and as a host state, we had to stand tall.”
“Although, this is the first time that we are having another state in this championships since it started in 2015, but its good and should continue. she said.
Chukwuemeka Duru, the technical director of LSHA, said the invitational match was an initiative to gradually extend the tournament to the junior category in the South West region.
Duru said that it was part of measures introduced to add value to the tournament and assess the players capabilities with teams across the state.
“We have our team, training and competing among themselves, but we really need them to compete with other state to challenge them and that is what we have done.” he said.
NAN reports that the 3rd edition of ‘Opeifa Cup’ was held at the Mobolaji Johnson sports Center, Rowe Park, Yaba from May 15 to May 19 with 120 schools in attendance.
The championships ended on Friday with excitement and pains from winners and losers as 2015 defending champions, Herbert Macaulay Girls Senior High School, retained its position, while Ayetoro Senior Grammar School came 2nd.
Archdeacon Adelaja High School came 1st in the senior boys category, while Ayetoro Senior Grammar School placed second.
The victorious teams got trophies while players were decorated with medals and supporting fans smiled home with gift items such as school bags, text books and exercise books. (NAN)
MIL/MEMO
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Edited by Mike Mbonye