Commonwealth Handball Association Boss Hails National Sports Festival Event

The Secretary General of the Commonwealth Handball Association, Saidu Jibril has commended the quality of organization and competition witnessed at the National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State where the host emerged overall winners with 320 gold, 200 silver and 128 medals.

The former handball international player lauded teams Kano and Oyo for their resilience to edge both male and female teams of Delta to handball gold of the national sports fiesta.

Jibril who emerged as the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Handball Association on December 5, 2021, after a meeting of member countries gave assurances of the efforts in making the sport accessible to the grassroots.

He further reemphasized the need for handball coaches and umpires in the country to brace themselves as their services will be required for the development of the sport in some West African countries.

“Our plan is to ensure the successful introduction of beach handball to Nigeria. It is the global trend and Commonwealth Nations cannot be left behind. We cannot rush into this without carefully studying the financial, technical and official requirements for its success. I can tell you that once funds are approved by the CHA for this specific project, we shall hit the ground running.

“I have consistently reminded handball stakeholders in the country that we have to take the lead in the Commonwealth and seize the opportunity to develop Handball in African countries”.

Transparency

The CHA Scribe also urged the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to spotlight the financial operations of the Federations under its supervision at a time when the National Sports Industry Policy mandates them to source for funds thus gradually bringing to an end the era of full sponsorship of programmes by the Ministry.

Jibril advocated for more transparency, especially in the Handball Federation of Nigeria.

“Handball will reach its peak when we as stakeholders all come together. We have to abandon our selfish interests and put the sport first because of our youth. The President of the Handball Federation must carry all board members along and be open with all financial dealings on behalf of the board. We are all up there in our respective careers mainly because of the platform handball gave us when we were teenagers; what platform are we creating for the next generation“ Saidu Jibril queried.

He congratulated the sportsmen and women in the country for an outstanding year and called for more support from constituted authorities in the year 2023.

Emmanuel Ukoh