In a bold move to restore Abia’s lost glory in handball and revive grassroots sports, the Abia State Government, in partnership with the Handball Federation of Nigeria, has kicked off the first-ever National Under-12 and Under-15 Handball Championship at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
The championship, which began on March 18 and is scheduled to run until March 29, 2025, has attracted participation from 16 states across the country.
Addressing journalists on Friday, the State Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George, underscored the importance of the tournament in nurturing future handball stars.
“What you have seen here today is the first time Abia State is hosting the National Under 12 and 15 championship being sponsored by the sports-loving governor, Dr. Alex Otti,” he said.
He highlighted Abia’s historical dominance in handball, referencing the once-dominant Valiants team, while acknowledging the decline in recent years due to mounting challenges.
“You know in sports, no champion reigns forever, so they have done their work; they ruled, but unfortunately they have fizzled out of the scene because of so many challenges,” he noted.
However, he expressed optimism about the current administration’s renewed commitment to sports, stating, “But I thank God for the Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, we call him in sports ‘Chioma Ndi Sports,’ his coming has sincerely developed sports in the state.”
The Director commended the Hon. Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sir Nwadinma Nwabilor Ananaba, for his hands-on approach, describing him as “a round peg in a round hole.”
He added that the tournament marks a return to the roots of handball in Africa, noting that the athletes will undergo intensive training after the event in preparation for future dominance.
“From this to the youth championship now, we are going to get it right… give us a few years, we will sincerely bounce back,” he said, hinting at plans to reward outstanding players academically at the end of the competition.
Also speaking, the South East Representative of the Nigerian Handball Federation, Sir Onyii Wamah, emphasised the tournament’s role in ensuring continuity in the sport by identifying young talents who will take over from ageing stars.
He praised Governor Otti’s visionary leadership, saying, “We are getting it down to the grassroots; that is why we are here, we are here to put Abia State and Nigeria back on the map of handball in the world.”
Wamah noted that the championship not only repositions Abia in the national handball space but also aligns with the larger vision of rebuilding youth sports infrastructure and creating a viable pathway for talent development in the state.
Abia Hosts National U-12, U-15 Handball Championships is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
