By Frankie Omokhua, Enugu
Abia State U-15 male Handball team and their U15 male Football counterparts have been accused of age cheats at the ongoing South East Zonal elimination for the upcoming National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta state.
The Abia Handball team was said to have used three ineligible over-aged players that defeated their Enugu Handball team by 32-17 in a Zonal elimination game decided at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium’s Handball Court on Sunday.
Reports have it that the three over-aged players had represented Enugu state U15 team at the National Youth Games held in Asaba in 2023.
Enugu state Handball Association media spokesman, Otuechelu Olie, who made this known to Sportsday disclosed that a petition has already been forwarded to the National Sports Commission (NSC) in Abuja, where a committee set up to deal with such issues will convene a meeting today (Sunday) to take a decision on the matter.
“This development is not good for a Zonal elimination that is aimed at discovering and nurturing young talents”.
“The shocking part of the issue is that the three players involved had represented Enugu state at the National Youth Games in 2023.
“As we speak, the Enugu state Handball Association has written a petition to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to take a decision on the matter”, hinted Otuechelu.
In another development, the Abia U15 Football team taking part in the Zonal elimination has also been accused of age cheat by their Anambra State counterparts.
The Anambra team who were losing 3-0 in the first half of the match decided at the UNEC Stadium in Enugu, walked out in protest.
The coach of the Anambra side, Chukwuka Fidelis, expressed disappointment with the way the screening excercise was carried out by the screening committee, which he said favoured their Abian opponents who were over-aged.
“I’m disappointed with the way the screening was done. My players were screened but our opponents did not go through that because they are over-aged”.
“I don’t know why the big, big boys are playing against the small, small boys. I want to believe that the rules that govern this competition which states that any team that engages in over age process will be sanctioned will be taken into consideration. I’m waiting to see how the outcome will be”.
The ongoing Zonal elimination which started on Saturday, August 16, with the arrival of teams from the host state, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Imo and Anambra will end today (Monday), August 18, while departure will be on Tuesday.
The National Youth Games has been scheduled to begin on August 26 in Asaba, Delta state.
