By Ebube Dike

No fewer than 24 Teams from across the six Area Councils of the federal capital will take part in the 2022 FCT U-12/U-15 Male and Female Inter-Area Council Handball Championship.

The secretary of the FCT Handball Association, Mrs Hulda Nkwocha who disclosed this to newsmen on Monday, said the number was an astronomical increase from initial four participants in the previous edition

A visibly elated Mrs Nkwocha said that the previous edition last year had only 4 teams in which Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC emerged overall winners.

“We want to announce to the world that 24 teams from the six Area Councils that make up the FCT will participate in the championship this year

“The plan was to have all the Area Council provide four teams and we are delighted that all the six Area Councils have registered their entry with 4 teams which makes for 24 teams,” she said.

When asked on how the FCT Handball Association Board was able to mobilize the Area Councils to all the councils register four teams for the categories, Mrs Nkwocha attributed it to the visionary leadership of the new board led by Ambassador Edward Olutoke (PhD).

“Everything about the Championship is summed up in the scripture which says that when the righteous are in power, the people rejoice. Since the coming on board of the new Board of the association less than three months ago, it has been from one success to the other.

“Ambassador Olutoke is a man so passionate about handball and since he assumed office, the story of handball in the FCT has changed for good and it will get better.

“He brought in several incentives for the players which includes provision of accommodation and feeding. Award of various prizes to best teams and players. There are a lot of things on ground for players who show exceptional qualities including scholarships courtsey of the Chairman and his board members,” she said.

A breakdown of the list of participating teams in the 2022 FCT U-12/U-15 Inter-Area Council Handball Championship shows that AMAC, who are defending champions after winning the U-15 male and female, as well as U-12 female last year are presenting four teams made up of U-12 and U-15 male and female teams.

Similarly, Bwari, Kwali and Kuje Area Councils registered four teams for the four categories respectively.

Also, Abaji Area Council who won the U-12 male category last year, as well as Gwagwalada have have four teams for the U-12 and U-15 categories each.

Each Area Council is presenting a team each for the various categories, that is a female and a male team each for the U-12 and a female and a male team for the U-15.

The five-day championship which starts on Wednesday 4th will end on Sunday, May 8th, 2022 at the FCT Handball Court, Old Parade Ground, Garki Abuja.