Stephen, Yola call for better preparationTHE International Handball Federation (IHF) has commended the Nigerian male and female junior teams that qualified for the World Challenge Trophy, which comes up in November in Czech Republic.Coach of the female team, Adebayo Stephen, who disclosed this to The Guardian yesterday, said that IHF officials, who were at the venue praised the teams and noted that it was the beginning of better things to come for the country.In the qualifiers held in Accra, the Nigerian male team defeated its Ghanaian counterpart 39-34 and also overcame a resolute Beninoise side 5-4 on penalties after the game ended 19-19 at full time.According to Stephen, the IHF officials, who ensured that the competition was devoid of bias officiating, were proud that Nigeria, which was a pioneering handball playing country, was finally coming back to reckoning after lull.He said: 'The officials of the world governing body was very excited about our victory and the performance of our players. And they specifically told me that we should keep up the good work so that we can become the best in Africa once again.'Speaking about his team's final game against the Zone 3 defending champion, Benin Republic, Stephen revealed that it was a very tough match that could have gone either way. He also blamed his players for making the game difficult for themselves by fluffing the several scoring chances that came their way.He added that a final-second equaliser by the Benin team took the game to penalty shootout, which the Nigerian team eventually won. He said: 'I think if we had defended well in the closing stages of the game, there would have been no need for the penalty shootout. So we have to guide against a reoccurrence by teaching the girls how to protect their lead at all time.'He also commended the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) for allowing the team travel to Ghana for the qualifiers despite paucity of funds. However, he called on the HFN top shots to make plans for better preparation for future competition.The assistant coach of the male team, Solomon Yola, also commended the organisers for putting together a good championship, pointing outing that African handball was on the rise. The Kano State coach also poured encomium on the Ghanaian, Ivoirien and Beninoise teams for giving good account of themselves and bringing out the best in the Nigerian team.He urged Nigeria to emulate other counties in the sub-region and run a league all year round instead of the 10 days competition. Yola added: 'Our experience really got us through because most of the teams showed they had the wherewithal to defeat us, but we won the competition all the same.'The countries at the competition were Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Bukina Faso, Liberia, Niger, Togo and Benin Republic. Burkina Faso finished third in the female category while Ghana finished third in the male category.
Click here to read full news..
