Key stakeholders in Nigeria’s handball, have lauded the decision by organizers of the North Central Handball Championships, to host this year’s edition of the region tournament, in Makurdi, Benue state.
One of such plaudit, is captain of the nation’s senior women’s handball team, Dorothy Nyagh, who described the decision to host the 3rd edition of the North Central handball championships (for men and women) in Makurdi, Benue state, as very heart heartwarming.
Speaking exclusively to the tournament’s media team, Dorothy Nyagh said aside from the benefit of aiding the Handball Federation of Nigeria in popularizing the sport, via taking the game to the people; it is for her a sort of home coming.
Until a few months ago, when she jumped ship to join the NSCDC D-Defender Babes of Abuja, Dorothy was captain of Benue Queens, a team she led to gain promotion, from the championship, to the Prudent Energy sponsored premier league.
“Returning to Makurdi to play against my former team, in a competitive tournament, will be real fun, and I’m eagerly looking forward to lining up against them”.
Michael Taangahar, Head coach in charge of Benue state owned Queens and their male team, Buffalos in a separate chat, conceded that seeing Nyagh leave was quite difficult.
According to Taangahar who played for the Senior men’s national side, before going to France to play professional handball, his former captain was very influencial, both on and off the field of play; but having graduated from Benue State University Makurdi, where she studied English Language, she had a better offer from Abuja, and there was no hesitation in letting her leave for “greener pastures”.
Of the eight men’s teams confirmed for Makurdi, Niger Potters of Minna and FRSC Safety Shooters of Abuja have been National Champions; while the Safety Babes of Abuja, are the reigning Prudent Energy League Champions, as well as winners of the last edition of the North Central championship, which was held in Abuja.
But this stastics do not seem to bother Dorothy, who said “as a team, we have improved a lot, and those of us that are new have settled in and our goal is to keep improving, which is something we know will help us to march their high standard of play, and perhaps surpass them”.
The week-long championships, a pet project of Saidu Jibrin Ojih, who represents the North Central on the HFN Board is organised under the auspices of the Abuja Mega Handball Veterans of Nigeria, from August 19th-26th.
