By Amaechi Agbo

The 2022 National Sports Festival, NSF may be four months ahead but Enugu State Handball Association is not leaving any stone unturned in its determination to win medals at the Nigerian Olympics.

It is no wonder then that on Saturday, July 23, the Enugu State Handball team handed a 28-21 defeat to their Anambra State counterparts in a warm-up game.

Played at the Handball Court of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, the Enugu State team showed clash and precision as they outsmarted their opponents to win the friendly encounter.

Best Choice Sports Correspondent reports that the friendly match had every embodiment of new hope and a rebirth in handball in the state and South-East region of the country.

Consequently, the Chairman of the Enugu State Handball Association, Honourable Onyebuchi Asogwa while speaking with journalists after the match, disclosed that beyond serving as tune-up game for the Delta 2022 Festival, added that the game is meant to foster brotherhood between the two states as well as signpost the rebirth of grassroots handball in the region.

“It is a tune up game because very soon we will be going to Delta State for the National Sports Festival, NSF and it is with this type of game that we get prepared. We have already been preparing but this game serves as gauge to rate our readiness ahead of the festival.

“We are at the verge of starting South East Handball Tournament. We are just waiting for the approval and consent of the zonal reps so that we start it here in Enugu.

“So the friendly match is part of it. There will be another tune-up match before the festival,” he stated.

Also speaking, Commissioner for youth and sports, Enugu State, Honourable Manfred Nzekwe represented by the Director of Organizing in the ministry, Mr Boniface Onovo
commended the chairman and his board for giving handball in the Coal City state a facelift.

He noted that the government through the ministry will continue to support the development and growth of sports in the state.

While assuring that his Ministry is committed in promoting all sports including handball, the commissioner announced that efforts are also in top gear towards reviving the moribund schools sports in the state.

On his part, Chairman of Enugu State Tankwaedo Association, and immediate past Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, DSP Ebere Amarizu, in his goodwill comment, harped on the need for the development of sports in various community of the state.

According to him, sports remains a vital veritable instrument that could always be used to cub youth restiveness in the society, especially in the present era of insecurity and all manner of agitations in parts of Nigeria.

He applauded the state Handball Association for the competition, pointing out that even though, football may be perceived as the king of all sports, every game is important and has its own tenet.

The former Crime Busters football club of Enugu Technical Adviser, also Stressed the need for the raising of young talents that will succeed the aging players and handlers in all sports

Since assuming the responsibilities as the first handballer in Enugu State few years ago, Hon. Asogwa who is also the Chairman Nsukka Sports Club, has continuously galvernised interests and championed the development of the game particularly at the grassroots level on the state