By Amaechi Agbo

The Managing Director, Poverty Fighters Handball Club, Abuja, Motivator Suleiman Yunusa has lauded the team’s performance at the just concluded North-Central Handball Championship in Makurdi, Benue State.

The team which made their official competitive debut in the tournament were placed 5th on the overall standings after the won 3 matches, drew one and lost three.

The club, established in January 2022, made their official competitive debut on Saturday, August 19th when they took on Prudent Energy Handball Premier League side, Benue Buffaloes in the opening match of the championship.

They played four Prudent Energy Handball Premier League sides, Benue Buffaloes, Confluence Stars of Kogi, Niger United and Safety Shooters drawing only against Buffaloes and losing narrowly to the other three.

The Fighters however won all their matches against Division One teams including Nasarawa Ambassador, Plateau Vipers and Suleja Shooters

They played 20-20 draw in opening match against Benue Buffaloes, beat Nasarawa Ambassador 30-21; lost 27-29 against Niger United before thrashing Plateau Vipers 23-16.

In other matches they lost 23-29 to Confluence Stars of Kogi before losing again to former Premier League champions, Safety Shooters 28-36.

The team’s performances have cut the attentions of the stakeholders in the tournament with many believing that the club is established for future greatness.

In an interview in Abuja on Saturday, Motivator Suleiman Yunusa said he was not surprised with the attitude and performances of the players adding that the club is established to bring a new narrative to handball in the country

“I want to first and foremost commend the players and technical crew for the great job they did in the competition. I watched their matches on the tournament’s Facebook Page and I am very much impressed.

“Poverty Fighters Handball Club is established to change the face of handball in the country. We registered our entrance into the competition late but the players and technical crew have justified that our participation worths the sacrifices

“The tournament offered us all we needed to evaluate the team and assess our plans going forward. The team came against established clubs in the championship and the result showed that it will not be long they will square up equally,” he said.

The Managing Director noted that with the huge success recorded in the North-Central Handball Championship, the club is primed to slot into Division One and fight for promotion ticket into the Handball Premier League