NAN-H 24-
Opeifa
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, May 20, 2017 (NAN) Kayode Opeifa, sponsor of the annual Lagos State Secondary Schools Handball Championships has expressed satisfaction at the officiating and players’ performances at the just-concluded Season 3 of the tournament.
Opeifa, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, said that he was impressed by skills exhibited by the players as well as application of the latest officiating rules during the matches.
The sponsor spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the end of the tournament.
He said that his financial commitment to the championships was fruitful.
“The general standard of this competition has really improved, compared to that of 2015, when it started.
“It shows seriousness of the young players, coaches and even the school authorities. It gladdens my heart.
“The turnout also increased because more schools are beginning to show interest, and students are taking the advantage to develop career in handball,” he said.
He said that the aim of the championships was to enhance the growth of handball at the grassroots and create enabling environment to expose upcoming players.
Opeifa said that adequate arrangement would be made for follow-up programmes to bring the newly discovered players together and sharpen their skills.
“The talent discovery in the championships is a significant achievement; we will go the extra mile to support these promising players by organising clinics for them.
“The clinics will be conducted by knowledgeable coaches and referees,” he said.
He appealed to corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals to partner with the championships and support schools with equipment and kits for handball.
According to him, the assistance would go a long way to promote the sport at the grassroots and help players to develop.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Lagos State Handball Association (LSHA)-organised championships took place at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, from May 15 to May 19.
No fewer than 120 private and public schools participated in the junior and senior categories of the male and female events of the five-day competition.
No fewer than 40 talents from the male and female categories were identified at the championships by a technical committee set up by LSHA for talent discovery. (NAN)
MIL/IGO
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(Edited by Ijeoma Popoola)