NAN-S-10
Handball
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, May 17, 2017 (NAN) The Most Valuable Players (MVPs) in the junior and senior categories of 2016 Lagos State Secondary Schools Handball Championships have boasted they would the repeat their performances this year.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the ongoing 2017 edition of the championships in Lagos, tagged “Opeofa Cup Season 3’’ that they aimed to win the trophy for their schools.
NAN reports that Akoni Kudus, Birrel Avenue School, Sabo, Yaba, won the MVP in the senior boys’ category, while Ajibola Eniola of Herbert Macaulay Junior High School, Sabo, claimed the junior category title.
Oguntowo Sola from Ayetoro Senior Grammar School won MVP in the senior girls’ category, while Adeleke Oluwasegun from Birrel Avenue School, Yaba, was the best goalkeeper, senior boys and Babatunde Kehinde, best goalkeeper junior girls.
Kudus told NAN at the Lagos State Sports Centre, Yaba, venue of the Championships; that all he did at the 2016 edition was to play to the instruction of his coach and was surprised to be nominated the MVP.
He said that the recognition earned him a trophy, which motivated him to train harder to retain his MVP title in the ongoing edition.
“I am here again to bring honour to my school, family and fans and I hope to stand out again as the MVP of the tournament,’’ Kudus said.
Also, Eniola said that immediately after the 2016 championships, he started training under the supervision of coaches from the Lagos State Handball Association and had honed his skills.
“My target is to win the trophy again this year, this compels me to train in school and at the Rowe Park regularly before the start of the competition,’’ he said.
The winner of the MVP in the senior girls’ category, Oguntowo, commended the LSHA, organisers of the tournament, for the recognition given to outstanding players in the championships.
“Last year, I played well without knowing that the organisers of the competition would recognise me as one of the MVPs; it was a plus for me,’’ she said.
Oluwasegun, a goalkeeper, said that he had mastered the techniques to keep out balls from his net and would strive not to concede many goals so that his chances of emerging the best goalkeeper would be high.
“I am the best goalkeeper in my category and as the best goalkeeper, people will expect me to man the post effectively and I am ready,’’ he said.
Also, Kehinde, the best female goalkeeper, said that goalkeeping required commitment and vigilance to be the best, adding that she would improve on her previous record to remain the best.
“I worked hard last year and the number of goals I caught was more than the ones I conceded, but this year, even at that, I stand to be challenged’’.
NAN reports that trophies are available for grabs by winning teams include best goalkeepers in male and female categories of the junior and senior events in the ongoing championships. (NAN)
MIL/AOS/PDE
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(Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Peter Ejiofor)