Sports
NIGERIA’s participation in forthcoming Africa U-17 Zone V Boys and Girls Beach Handball championships scheduled to hold in Tanzania between Feb. 20 and Feb. 24, has been threatened by a lack of funding.
The Head Coach of the team, Christopher Olufojude, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, that the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) had yet to call the players in camp ahead of the championships.
Olufojude pleaded with the National Sports Commission (NSC) to support the federation with adequate funds to ensure they mobilise and prepare the teams, especially the male team, for the championships.
He said that funding was the major challenge delaying the team from preparing for the championships.
“We plead with the NSC to come to our rescue; the boys are ready to represent and make the country proud in Tanzania by winning a medal
“It is unfortunate that we did not have a female team that can represent us in the championship but we have the male team that are competent for the championship.
“Some of our boys that went to participate in a championship in Ethiopia recently and won, will be included in the team to represent Nigeria in Zanzibar in Tanzania.
“We want to use this Beach Handball Under 17 championship to qualify for the World Cup and at the same time, for the World Youth Game in 2026.
“We want to keep the boys to train very hard so that in 2028 at the Los Angeles Olympic games, Nigeria will also feature in Beach Handball which is now a medal winning event,” he said
The coach added: “Whenever the federation is ready to open camp for players ahead for the championship, 14 players will be called to camp, but they will travel with only 10 players.
“Four officials will follow the team, comprising the leader of delegation, the secretary of the federation and two coaches,” he said.
NAN reports that the African championship will serve as a qualifier for the World Cup scheduled to be held in Tunisia from June 17 to June 22.
The World Cup in Tunisia is also a qualifier for the Junior Olympics which will be hosted by Senegal in 2026. (NAN)
A.I
Kan. 10, 2025
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