The of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has confirmed that arrangements have peaked for the concluding phase of the 2023 Ardova Premier League scheduled to hold in Lagos, from November 14th to 25th.
According to Cosmos Chukwuemeka, the media aide to the President of the HFN, Sam Ocheho; the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute of Sports, inside the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos; and the main court at Rowe Park Sports Center, in Yaba, Lagos are both in top shape, and waiting for the fireworks to begin.
According to the fixtures for the entire duration of the Lagos phase of the championships, released last week by the tournament director, Otumba Sina Sanya; Day-1 threw up most of the mouth-watering and eagerly awaited encounters, in both the men’s and women’s categories.
An Arewa derby, awaits at 10am on the opening day, as Kano Pillars takes on Rima Strikers of Sokoto, the reigning champions will be in Eko, trying to erase the five-point gap between them and Niger United, who tops the men’s log, after the first round in Benin.
Similarly, the FRSC Strikers of Abuja who are trailing Niger United by two points, will face the youngsters of Tojemarine, an Academy based in Lagos, that competed with so much energy and swag while interrogating the title credentials of the Big-3; that’s Kano Pillars, Safety Shooters and Niger United, in Benin.
And the duel of the opening day in the women’s section, pits arch-rivals, NSCDC Defender Babes and FRSC Safety Babes, both of Abuja. Perennial Champions, Safety Babes lead Defender Babes in the women’s table, by just one point, and the winner of this game could largely decide where the pendulum of the 2023 title swings to.
Having already caused a few upsets in Benin, Kano Pillars must be on their guards while battling Correctional Boys of Abuja, on Day-2; which otherwise, should be relatively quiet as the top sides are expected to be a bit too strong for the underdogs paired against them.
Now, aside the battles at the top and for the title; there’s a potentially huge relegation decider on Day-5; when Imo Grasshoppers that had a tournament to forget in the first phase, will fancy their chances of avenging the unlikely loss handed them by Bayelsa Queens in Benin. If the former African champions must avoid the drop to the championship, this is one game they must win.
While Days 6 and 7 are both expected to be quiet and in favour of the big sides; the show-stopper on Day-8 is the tie between inaugural winners of the league, Niger United of Minna who must beat FRSC Safety Shooters to preserve their lead, on top of the men’s table. This one will be too close to call, and spectators are no doubt going to sit at the edge of their seats, for the entire duration.
Then comes Day-9, when Rima Strikers of Sokoto and Niger United are to take to the court, at 4pm. The Ikon Allah Boys from Minna knows that they cannot afford to underrate the Striker from the seat of the Caliphate, a team with which they share a lot in common; and have traded players with, at various times.
As the championships begin to wind down, all eyes will be on Days 10 and 11, for obvious reasons. If Kano Pillars are to make good of the words of their head coach, Solomon Yola; and have been able to win their games leading to Day-10, when they will be up against Tojemarine of Lagos.The Sai Masu-Gida must beware of the trouble the Academy boys have already caused in Benin, and devise means of containing the fluid and electrifying pace.
That game throws-off at 5.30pm and would also be of interest to the other top contenders, for the men’s title – Niger United (winners of the inaugural edition) and FRSC Safety Shooters, an ever present in the top 3.
Meanwhile, the epic fixture and potentially title deciding fixture in the women’s competition is billed for Day-12, when the defending champions, FRSC Safety Babes and the exciting youngsters of Rima Queens of Sokoto takes to the court at about 1:30pm.
The vastly improved Rima Queens of Sokoto are no doubt the most improved side in the Ardova Premier Handball League, and it will be a delight to watch these ladies that supplied bulk of the players that won for Nigeria laurels at recent Under-18 women’s championships in Africa and the West Africa subregion; against the more illustrious, and experienced Safety Babes side.
Speaking exclusively to Sports Day in Abuja, a renowned sports administrator and member of the Board of the Nigeria Handball Federation (HFN), Otumba Sylvester Ikuejamoye duffed his cap for Ardova Plc, the title sponsors of the Nigeria Premier Handball League, for the improved sponsorship and quality partnership the firm has brought to the table.
Otumba Ikuejamoye, the President of the Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA) in its glory years, also linked the sponsorship to the improved quality of the men’s and women’s Premier League’s, as well as the recent eye-catching outings of the nation’s Under-18 women’s team, are glowing testimonies to the fact that handball in Nigeria is taking proper root and the players are more committed to the game now, more than before.
He predicted that teams will be more competitive henceforth, and the concluding phase in Lagos will be one of the best advertisment for the all round development, of handball in the country; and that includes, officiating and players welfare.
The Confederation of African Handball (CAHB) last week announced Cairo, in Egypt as venue of the 2024 Africa Club Championships; which takes place from January 18th to 29th, 2024.
Nigeria’s representatives for the competition are to emerge at the 2023 Ardova Premier League, whose concluding phase, ends in Lagos, next month.
