By Albert Akota
No fewer than one hundred and twenty handball coaches and referees in Nigeria have indicated interest to participate in handball coaches and referees seminar billed for this month to enable them upgrade technically.
Disclosing this to newsmen in Abuja over the weekend, Jibril Saidu, the vice chairman of Mega Veterans Handball Association, said that the body has invited IHF handball instructor from Germany for the refresher seminar to enable referees and coaches meet international standard.
The Mega veteran’s handball association that has been the heart of handball in Nigeria after the fallout of the handball federation said that the essence of the seminar was to empower coaches and referees with the new techniques of the fastest games as well as the trained to impact the knowledge to prospect players.
“The coaches and referees seminar or conference is slated for this month to ensure our coaches and referees who have been outdated from the current handball field are educated.
“We went as far as inviting IHF handball instructor from Germany to marshal the seminar in Abuja; we are expecting him between now and 15th of the month.
“We also invited resource persons in Nigeria, like the director of sports in Sokoto state, Coach Patrick Anthony and high rated coaches and referees to join the German to update our coaches and referees.
“Let’s me tell you, the emphasis is technicality not theological because doing this would help us develop the game of handball in Nigeria as well as providing prospect players to national teams, unlike before where peoples would assemble themselves under three days and travel for competition that is why we are not doing well, “ he explained.
Saidu further said that the Mega veteran’s handball association would organize a competition immediately after the seminar to test run the coaches and referees.
“We are organizing a competition immediately after the seminar to know how equipped our coaches and referees at the refresher seminar, the competition would be under-18 tournament, the trained coaches and referees would also serve as an instructors to young ones, if all things go well, we are purposing open championship, we have many programme for all categories of handball, if we have the time because the year is coming to an end, within our power, we will make sure we organize under-18, the venue is yet to be decide but the game is sure to test their capability and knowledge wise, “ he re-affirmed.
The vice chairman, who could not hide his feelings, attributed the challenges facing the handball federation to the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) especially the immediate past sports minister, Bolaji Abdulahi.
“We thank God that the NSC leadership especially the minister Dr. Tammy Danagogo and amiable Director General Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye for their fearless and resilience to resolve the crisis in the handball family.
“The former minister was the problem of handball in Nigeria, we are still in court today because of his interest but the DG is doing everything possible to endure things are put in place, notwithstanding the mega veteran’s handball association who took the case to court would only withdraw the case when we see things are in others, “ he assured.
