By: Chinedum Ohanusi
Five-time Ardova Handball Premier League (Women’s) Champions, the FRSC Safety Babes of Abuja have been assured of a return to the continent, to compete with the very best, in the 2025 African senior women’s clubs championship.
The Corps Marshall of the Federal Roads Safety, Alhaji Shehu Mohammed mni, asserted this while speaking on the sidelines of the end-of-year party for staff of the corps, held at the FRSC Headquarters, in Wuse Zone 3, Abuja.
At the event, the Safety Babes displayed five of the trophies they won, and the Corps Marshal believes having conquered Nigeria over and over again, they deserve to be given a new challenge.
“We will support them to go [and play with African bests], that’s part of the motivation, without such they wouldn’t have won all these trophies you see. With government funding us, and we releasing funds to them to prepare, they always put in their best, to come first whenever they compete. And that’s why you see all those trophies”, he said.
On ensuring the team remains competitive, even at a bigger stage, the Corps Marshall added, “Going to play on the continent next year, we will sponsor them, give them all the tools, and requisite facilities they need to excel and make Nigeria proud”.
And with the long list of achievements, above, the Head of Sports FRSC, Corps Commander Daniel Asanya, couldn’t agree less with the Corps Marshal.
“The safety Babes did very well by winning their 5th Adover title in six years. The effort of the players is helped by the motivation and support from the Corps Marshall, Alhaji Shehu Mohammed mni. Our teams had the best in terms of training and encouragement that propelled the ladies to remain unbeatable”, he said.
The Head of Sports added that, “winning all of these trophies is huge and should compel us to look for the funds to expose them to tougher competitions in the African club championship 2025. The ultimate goal is to ensure that sports in FRSC keep growing, to a point where our athletes can qualify to fly the Team Nigeria banner at major games like the Olympics and African games”.
The Safety Babes won their five Ardova Premier League titles in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and in 2019. In-between time, the Adorable Angels of Ilorin won the title in 2020; and that’s after Plateau Peacocks of Jos won the first edition, in 2019.
Corps Commander Asanya however, noted that it was unfortunate that for the first time in the history of this present HFN, led by Samuel Ocheho, that the FRSC men’s team, Safety Shooters failed to finish on the podium; but assured that the team will be strengthened to return to their usual best.
The youngsters of TojeMarine Academy Lagos, guided by Coach Shittu Agboola Adewunmi won the 2024 men’s championship, and it was their first, title at this level.
