By: Chinedum Ohanusi
The representative of the North Central Zone, in the outgoing Board of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Saidu Ojih Jibrin (FNIQS), has felicitated with the outgoing President of the HFM, Samuel Ocheho.
Ocheho, who is most likely not to run for a third term of four years, was a year older on June 17, and has in the last eight years, done almost the unthinkable, by pulling out the sport from the woods, to prosperity.
This, the Kogi-born International banker cum Sports Administrator of repute achieved, first with the help of Energy giants, Prudent Plc, and later Adover Plc.
First, with the partners, and backed by a workaholic board, he was able to resuscitate the Handball Premier Leagues (men and women), breathe life into it; and ensure that the developmental teams (men and women), Juniors (Under 21) and Youth teams (Under 18) were revamped.
The Cadet teams, the Under 13 (Boys and Girls), and Under 15 (Boys and Girls); were also invigorated; as Nigeria gradually, but steadily returned to international Handball, taking both the West African region, and the African Continent by storm, while making appreciable inroads on the global scene.
Only recently, the HFN Board, led by Ocheho successfully staged and concluded an elite International Handball Federation (IHS), coaching course in Abuja; and Saidu Ojih Jibrin who may still be nursing an ambition to run for the HFN Presidency, described the IHS Course as one of the best things to happen to the country, and the quest of the HFN for the sustainable growth of the game, all over Nigeria, now and in the future.
