By News Editor
History was made on Friday, as Aje Junior High School beat Ikeja Junior Grammar School with 20 points to 15, to emerge the winner of the sixth edition of the Lagos State Secondary Schools Handball competition 2023.
The competition was sponsored by the former Vice Chairman, Presidential Committee on the restoration of order in Apapa and Ports roads, Dr Kayode Opeifa.
The competition which took place at the Indoor Sports Arena of Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba, had in attendance handball enthusiasts led by the National President of the Nigeria Handball Federation, Sam Ocheho, the President of the All Progressives Congress (APC) United Kingdom Chief Tunde Doherty, Chairperson of the Lagos State Handball Association (LSHA) Adeola Opeifa, Sports Heads of all the six Education Districts in Lagos State and Lagos State Handball Veterans among others.
Ocheho, who lauded Opeifa, for his dedication and commitment to the game said Federation will continue to give premium attention to school sports as it remains the bedrock for the grooming of raw talents which can be groomed for the national handball team.
He praised Lagos State government for its commitment to the grooming of talents for handball and all team sports across the country, and urged all states of the federation to take a leaf from the Lagos State experience and join in the grooming of talents for the national team.
He said the Federation would be happy to join hands with the Lagos State Sports Commission and especially the Handball Association in the state for the purpose of developing the talents discovered at the competition.
The Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission Oluwatoyin Gafar Bolowotan said the Commission will continue to support all associations, the Handball Association inclusive with clinic aimed at developing the talents and skills of new players.
He said the Commission is happy that new players both males and females have been discovered at the schools’ competition and the commission would expose them to continuous playing and clinics.
Bolowotan said the state government would continue to attract more sponsors with the aim of ensuring the development of grassroots sports in the state.
The Chairperson of the Lagos State Handball Association Adeola Opeifa said the vision behind the schools’ handball competition is to make handball a popular sports among the youths adding that the weeklong competition recorded no fewer than 400 participants drawn from all the six education districts in the state, out of which 100 potential players both male and female have been selected for further grooming with the hope that they may emerge as great players, not only for the state, but for the nation.
She said all winners including the 100 selected players would be go through the Association’s Holiday Coaching Clinic which comes up during the second term holiday in March.
According to the Chairperson, the association shall be organizing a two-day competition for the four semi-finalists of the competition for both boys and girls in March for the purpose of further exposing them to the game and making them develop more interest in it.
He appreciated Dr Kayode Opeifa, Sam Ocheho, and other co-sponsors such as Thomas Chase Engineering Nig. Ltd., Alfa Centauri West Africa, AlBasal Nig. Ltd, Prioriserve Consul Ltd., Kontz Group Nig Ltd, and Nature Management Services International Ltd, for their continued interest in the games.
Also singled out for mention for their support and contribution are; Mrs Oridami Bright, Mrs Titi Kareem, Mr Bola Haastrup, Chairman of the Lagos Handball Veterans Alhaji Shakiru Alli as well as the sports district heads.
She lauded all the districts for participating in the competition, adding that the association would be open to assist all schools interested in the game to train and develop the interest of their students in the sport.
Earlier, the sponsor of the competition, Dr Kayode Opeifa said his motivation is to ensure that as many youth as possible see sports as a veritable avenue to greatness that lies ahead of them.
Opeifa, a former Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State said the competition was last held in 2019 due to the challenges of COVID 19, and the restrictions on large gatherings.
He expressed happiness with the Handball Association for a well organised competition, adding that he will always be ready to support the game of handball and attract more talents to the sport.
The highlight of the competition was the presentation of trophies and awards, with the Most Valuable Player Female won by Agatha Anthony of United Christian Junior School, while Most Valuable Player Male was won by Ayodele Auwal of Aje Junior High School. The Best Goal Keeper Female was won by Ikeja Junior Female Team, while the Highest Goal Scorer Male Ayinde Doherty.
The first position of the Handball Competition was won by Ikeja Grammar School, Ikeja, while the second position and third position was won by Government Junior College, Agege, and United Christian Junior School.
In the Male Category, the Second Place was won by Ikeja Junior College, while the third position was won by Ruthina International Junior School, while the first position was won by Aje Junior High School.
They were all presented with certificates of participation, Gold Bronze and Silver Medals, and trophies.