Ocheho pledges to transform handball to greater height

By Lekan Olaseinde Abuja

Newly elected President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria, Mr.Samuel Ocheho has vowed to leave no stone unturned in his quest to reposition the fortunes of the sports in the country. Speaking during the opening ceremony of a 2 day retreat organized by the board in Abuja over the weekend the amiable president disclosed that there is need to discuss the way forward for the crisis bedridden federation who has been bedevil by internal wrangling over the years that has led the Federation to its present comatose state.

He called on all Handball stakeholders to sheathe their swords and come together to take the sports to a greater height. “It is a new dawn, a new era , we start afresh to take handball to a greater height. I’m calling on all stakeholders to let us come together for the good of the game .I sincerely request the support of everybody in this onerous assignment” he pleaded Representative of the Sports Minister at the event, Mrs Gloria Ekwempu charges the board to be abreast with the Codes of Governance of the ministry in running the aff airs of the Federation. “It will guides against making mistakes and bring about transparency and accountability .

‘Put in all your resources because government alone cannot do it “ She said Responding later, the immediate past president, Alhaji Yusuf Dauda pledged his unfl inching support for the new board. He said the new board must go back to the grassroots if the sport must return to its once enviable position.

“I have done 8 years and put in a lot despite the challenges. I am here to support and work with the new President to see how we can take the game to the next level. It is not about the leadership but to rally round collectively to ensure that the ideas and renovation becomes a reality,” he explained. He said the priority of the new board will on youth development and championship adding that it can no longer be fl ogging a dead horse. “We are going back to the grassroots, the game is played at that level and this is where we have the hidden talents. By the time someone is 30 years you are out of it. So we want to go to the local governments and states and bring them out, ” he said.

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