Abayomi Susan
Ten teams will compete in the third South-East Under-15 Handball Championship, scheduled for October 28-31 at Enugu’s Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
The tournament, featuring five male and five female teams from the region, is organized by the Lions/Grasshoppers International Handball Legend in partnership with Chief Emma Asogwa, the South-East Zonal Representative on the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) board.
Ferdinand Emeana, president of the Legend and a former HFN technical director, stated that the competition aims to reverse the decline of handball in the region.
He acknowledged Chief Asogwa’s strong support for handball over the past decade and encouraged all teams to ensure their players participate.
Emeana explained, “We, the legends, noticed the sport that made us famous was fading in the South East. We decided to fix this by gathering children under 15 annually.”
“This year’s event is particularly significant,” he added, “as it’s our first partnership with the newly-elected Zonal Representative, Chief Emma Asogwa, and the first time it’s being held outside Owerri.”
“We are optimistic about the impact of our efforts, especially since we have agreed to partner with the new Handball Federation of Nigeria board to elevate the game.”
The ‘Legends’ are a group of retired professional players from the Grasshoppers and Lions International Handball clubs in Imo State.
