Secretary-general, Commonwealth Handball Association (CHA), Saidu Jibril, has charged key stakeholders in Nigeria’s to align their policies with international best practice.
Jibril, who wished Nigerians a prosperous 2023, said sports administrators at the elementary and high school levels, corporate bodies as well as ex-internationals have the mandate to support government policies to fast-track the development of sports at the grassroots level.
“At a time when we have more youth emerging from our different institutions of learning and those who have diversified into artisanal ventures, handball can offer them veritable platforms to have profitable careers in sports,” Jibril said.
According to him, the implementation of the handball developmental programmes at schools is key toward achieving any meaningful results at various levels of competitions.
“State directors of sports and handball association chairmen must wake up to the realities on ground. They must be ready to support schools with genuine plans of handball development at age-grade levels. At the CHA, we can only urge them to take the bold step. We know there is paucity of funds, but if they do not implement these programmes, how will the support come? Opportunities only meet preparation.”
Jibril, an ex-international handball player, lamented the inability of the Golden Arrows to qualify for the ongoing International Handball Federation Men’s World Cup in Poland and Sweden.
“We cannot be doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. Stakeholders in Nigeria must take their own destinies right in their own hands. We should not be left behind in the scheme of things.”
He therefore urged the leadership of the Handball Federation of Nigeria to roll out their plans for the year early enough for optimal results.
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