LAGOS – Garuba Attahiru, the 1st Vice-President, Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), on Sunday decried the dismal performance of the National Male Handball Team at the just concluded African Nations Cup in Egypt.
Attahiru spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said the team’s inability to qualify was due to lack of harmony between the Veterans Handball Association and Yusuf Dauda-led board.
Attahiru, who served the association from 2000 to 2004, said the problem had affected development of the sport to the detriment of the players and country’s image at international tournaments.
“The truth is that the Veterans Handball Association and HFN, because of power tussle and selfishness, have succeeded in destroying handball in Nigeria,’’ he said.
Attahiru, also a former Executive Director of Commonwealth Handball Association, said the players pulled their weight and were enthusiastic in trying to excel in the tournament.
“But, they were psychologically, morally and financially affected by the infighting.
“As far as I am concerned, the boys did their best.
“As it stands now, we need at least five years of consistent participation in African Championships with good planning and funding.
“This will take Nigeria handball to the level it ought to be at the Olympics and World Cup Championships, just as it was in the 80s and 90s’’ he said.
Also, Toyin Aluko, a member of the HFN, expressed displeasure over the team’s poor performance at the competition.
Aluko said there was the need to go back to the drawing board to actually know why, where and how things went wrong for the sport in which Nigeria was initially doing well at international tournaments.
“The team’s performance was bad, judging from the results.
“It is obvious that they did not do well, and adequate measures should be put in place to identify the problems confronting this notable sport,” she said.
NAN reports that the team crashed out of the competition held in Egypt from Jan. 21 to Jan. 30.
The team had the following results in the tournament: Nigeria vs Cameroon 16-24; Nigeria vs Egypt 20-34; Nigeria vs Gabon 31-30; Nigeria vs Morocco 20-25; and Nigeria vs Algeria 23-31. (NAN)
banker of the day - FREE banker tips from experts