Nigeria Handball Men’s Senior International, Obinna Anih has joined Zenit St Petersburg HC from Don Cossacks-Sfedu of Russia.

The former Benue Buffaloes handball player, Obinna Anih officially become the first Nigerian handball player to play in the Russian Handball League.

Anih promised to justify his signing and add more firepower to the Zenit St Petersburg side.

He said, “I am short of words because I never saw this coming. Signing for Zenit St Petersburg is a big deal for me and my family while becoming the first Nigerian to play in the Russian League is a bigger deal. I want to say thank you lord for the opportunity given to me.

“I want to say that I am beginning to fulfil my dreams in the game of handball. I have played in the Nigeria, Morocco and Israel. Moving to a top club in Russia means I have got the potentials.

He said coming to the club will add more strength to the team adding that he has no regrets since becoming a player.

Anih said, “I have full confidence and a big feeling that my addition to the team will strengthen every department on the court. I am coming to add more strength and by the grace of God all my efforts will not be in vain.

Gwagwalada Area Council, Kuje, Abuja Municipal Area Council have emerged winners of the 2022 FCT U-12/U-15 Inter-Area Council Handball Championship concluded on Saturday.

In the finals held at the Multi-purpose Handball Indoor Sports Hall Old Parade Ground Garki Abuja, Gwagwalada emerged winners of the U-15 male category while Kuje won the U-15 female category. AMAC showed dominance as they won the male and female U-12 categories.

Kuje emerged the overall winner in their round rugby group U-15 female games while AMAC and Bwari Area Council came 2nd and 3rd respectively.

In the U-12 male category final, AMAC defeated Abaji 18-11 to win the trophy while Kuje went home with the bronze after beating Kwali Area Council 21-11 in the 3rd place match.

AMAC made it two victories in the tournament after the U-12 female team humbled their Bwari Area Council counterparts 19-1 in the final while Kuje placed 3rd.

Abuja Municipal Area Council dominated the Individual Awards after the final.

In the U-15 female, Most Valuable Player award went to Deborah Danjunma of Kuje while Deborah Kin Kin of AMAC won the Highest Goal Scorer award with 12 goals. Kuje goalkeeper, Bethsheba Isaac won the Best Goalkeeper Award.

In the female U-12 category, Jumai Samson from AMAC was outstanding as she won the Most Valuable Player award while her teammate, Ladi Sunday went home with the Highest Goal Scorer’s Award with 21 goals. Bwari Area Council’s goalkeeper, Hope James won the Best Goalkeeper Award.

In the U-12 male category, Bado Bameyi of AMAC won the Most Valuable Player, his compatriot, Ephraim Enoch went home with the Highest Goal Scorer’s Award with 24 goals.

The Best Goalkeeper Award went to Zaradeen Abdulamid of Abaji.

Kuje Area Council’s Johnson Nabala showed his talent as he emerged the Most Valuable Player in the male U-15 category while Francis Bulus of AMAC with 27 goals got the Highest Goal Scorer’s Award for his effort.

Joseph Morgan of Gwagwalada won the Best Goalkeeper Award for the U-15 male category.

Dignitaries that graced the finals were the President, Handball Federation of Nigeria HFN, Mr Samuel Ocheho and the Secretary-General, Commonwealth Handball Association, Mr Jubril Saidu both of whom were represented by Alhaji Hussaini Mohammed, a board member of the HFN.

Others are FCT Sports Council Director, Mr Lukas Istifanus; first Nigerian coach to take the national Handball team to Olympics in Barcelona 1992, Coach Patrick Atusu; FCT Handball Association Chairman, Ambassador Dr Edward Olutoke and his Board members, and other personalities.

Like us on
https://www.facebook.com/FCT-Handball-Association-Abuja-101007309263969/

Follow us
https://twitter.com/FctHandball?t=60oxXkqhd2jOeoauHuNDsg&s=09

Amaechi Agbo
08032190697
Media Director

Media Department
FCT Handball Association

May 6, 2022

This is coming on the heel of youths in Nigeria calling for an end to bad governance in the country.

Nosa Odia said most athletes would have given journalists audience in camp but they were afraid of being ejected.

She called on members of the fourth realm to come to the aide of athletes and rescue them from the shackles of their oppressors.

She said, “The first address we got from our officials in camp was that we have been instructed not to grant any form of interviews or post anything about the camping on any social media platforms.

“If you noticed, athletes were dodging and avoiding journalists during the camping because of this directive.

“Sports in Nigeria must change and that is why I am calling on journalists who are the watchdog of the society to help the athletes.”

She alleged that some senior officials of the sports ministry who brought their family and friends to the 2019 African Games got more funds than the athletes themselves.

Nosa-Odia said overseas athletes had to agitate for their professional grants.

“Individuals who had no business in Morocco for the 2019 African Games with the help of officials of the Ministry of Sports benefited more than the athletes and bought so many things. We had to agitate for our professional grants to be paid to us as international players, this money was available. How long do we have to keep silence?” she queried.