Stakeholders of Kogi State handball have called on Governor Usman Ododo to urgently dissolve the state’s handball board and a new all inclusive one with members cut across various geopolitical zones in the state be reconstituted.
The Kogi State handball association is presently headed by Mr. Jibril Saidu.
In a statement signed by the leader of the group, Moses Balogun and made available to Channel Network Afrique, CNA, the group said the decision was part of the resolution of a meeting they had to salvage the state’s handball from total collapse.
“….As stakeholders of Kogi state handball who are major key players, officials and administrators of handball in Kogi state and Nigeria as a whole have resolved on a common ground towards achieving a better and more all-inclusive leadership with team spirit and objective of purpose that will position handball in Kogi state better than where it is now with the following resolution,” the statement read.
The statement noted that the reconstituted board should have members that have played handball for Kogi state at one point or contributed towards handball development in the state.
“Association members must have capacity funding and sponsorship drive for Handball activities in Kogi state as well as any other factor that is deemed necessary for the growth and development of handball,” the statement added.
According to the statement, “Kogi state was created in August 1991 and by September 1992, Kogi state hosted national Under12 handball championship in Idah. Kogi won gold in the male category and silver in the female category.
“In 1994, Kogi state hosted national under 15 male and female in Idah and Kogi state won gold in male and silver in female category. The winning gave the male team a ticket to represent Nigeria in international championship at Taramo, Italy.
“In 1995 Kogi state male handball team represented Nigeria under15 category in Italy and won the gold medal at the international championship.
“In 1995, Kogi state hosted the national under-15 and 18 male and female categories in Idah. The under 15 males came second and female came first while the under-18 male came second.
“This underage dominance continued with Igalamela local government in Kogi state hosting under-15 and 18 in Ajaka and later Yagba East local government in Kogi state also hosted another underage category in 2000.
“One of our catchment LGA Yagba East sponsored the U14 girls to Sweden which eventually played and lost at the quarter finals in the year 2010.
“These same girls upon return to Nigeria made kogi proud same year by winning the National U18 championship in Minna 2010.
“These winning gave the girls scholarship AAUA and other higher institutions.
By the year 2019, Kogi state male team participated in the under-12 and 18 championship in Lagos and won gold in U18 male and bronze in U12 female .
“The pool of all underage categories player naturally transitioned and constituted the Kogi state senior team and by the year 2020 Kogi state secured her first qualification from national division 1 handball league to handball premier league which Kogi state participated in the national handball premier league from the year 2020 to 2023.
“In the year 2024, Kogi state handball premier league team confluence star did not participate in the first phase of the handball premier league in Benin, Edo state and the Second phase is scheduled to hold in 26th November to 7th December 2024 in in Lagos.
“However, the confluence star players from Kogi state were sprayed across various other teams in the premier league as a result of non participation as the players were earlier informed by the chairman Mr. Jibril Saidu that he has backed out and would not be sponsoring the team anymore and also, he has Quitted his Position as chairman.
“Looking at the trend of events, it is obvious that underage participation disappeared from 2019 to date even when Sokoto state hosted under 12 and 15 for 5 years given free feeding and accommodation to participating teams. Kogi state never attended any of the edition.
“This non participation was triggered by earlier perceived rejection of the person of Mr. Jibril Saidu from the chairmanship of Sokoto state handball association as such, Sokoto state hosting the National under-12 and 15 for 5 years and as chairman Kogi state handball association was a time for reprisal and payback with non-Participation in national organized competition in Sokoto not minding the overall interest of the state.
“Also, the female team confluence queen after their participation in 20220 in Kaduna state went into extinction. More disturbing is the fact that our premier league team Kogi confluence star is already on his way out of the premier league for non participation.
“Our players became sheep’s without shepherds, begging states to allow them play for them to show case their talents. Very painful and shameful.
“In conclusion, We have equally and unanimously agreed that MR. OKPANACHI MARK OGAH be the Chairman of our association Kogi State Handball with other prominent Handball Family Stakeholders as members.
“Okpanachi Mark Ogah have the Capacity to lead as he is a known leader with capacity of inestimable value and within two years, the lost glory of handball in Kogi State will be restored,” the statement concluded.
