Sam Ochehu, the President, Handball Federation of Nigeria, on Saturday said the ongoing U-12 and U-15 championships was a success because its objective of discovering young talents was achieved.
Ocheho told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that no fewer than 80 budding talents comprising boys and girls were identified as a result of their exceptional performances.
He said the talents were discovered by officials positioned strategically around the courts in Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba venue of the championships holding from April 6 to April 15.
He said: “We have a vision of taking handball to its place of pride, and that is the reason we started with the youth competitions to discover talents as a way of going back to our bedrock.
“It’s been a thrilling performance by the players in their various teams, giving our designated technical officials ample opportunity to identify talents.
“I feel great because the turnout is impressive, teams have opportunity of exposing their players who have also socialised, it’s indeed a milestone achievement.’’
While commending the championships Local Organising Committee for a hitch-free event, the HFN boss said that the board would meet on a follow up programme for the new talents.
According to him, the follow up programme would be organised across the zones for the talents to be able to have easy access to the programme.
He said: “The officials saddled with the responsibility of identifying talents did a marvelous job because it is not an easy task, so we need to take it up from there after the championships.
“We are going to review the championships, and we will use that forum to plan and come up with a kind of summer camp to groom the talents to stardom.’’
He applauded state associations that had featured teams in the eight-day event hosted by the Lagos State Handball Association.
NAN reports that 15 states took part in the championships, while the matches ended in round robbing with Lagos lifting the trophy in the U-15 girls, Bayelsa placed 2nd and Niger was third.
Also, in the U-12 boys’ category, Ogun emerged winner, Kogi placed second, while Edo came third.
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