AMAC Sweep Hand2Hand Foundation U-12 Inter-Area Council Handball Titles

Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) emerged overall champions of the Hand2Hand Foundation U-12 Inter-Area Council Handball Championship after winning both the boys’ and girls’ categories in Abuja.

The AMAC boys defeated their Abaji counterparts 3-0 in a penalty shootout after regulation time ended 6-6 in a keenly contested final at the handball court of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The AMAC girls also finished top of the round-robin competition to claim the female title, ahead of Kuje, who placed second, while Nyanya finished third.

Speaking after the competition, AMAC handball head coach, Peter Samson, attributed his teams’ success to consistent training, hard work and sustained investment in grassroots development.

Samson said the achievement was the product of years of deliberate talent development, adding that most of the players in the victorious teams were new to the competition.

“We have been together for about five years. The first set of players have graduated to the under-15 category, while others have also moved on. This group comprises mainly new players, with only two having featured in the previous tournament.

“Because of our consistent training, we have been able to make them victorious,” he said.

He explained that the conclusion of the championship would not bring an end to preparations, as the coaching team would return to the drawing board to assess their performance, correct mistakes and improve ahead of future competitions.

Samson also commended the Hand2Hand Foundation for its contribution to reviving grassroots handball in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“Hand2Hand Foundation is one of the greatest foundations I have seen. I must commend them because handball would probably have become a thing of the past in the FCT if not for their intervention.

“They have made efforts to revive the sport and bring it back into the limelight. With the support of the area councils, we have continued to move from grass to grace,” he said.

He called on philanthropists and private-sector organisations to support grassroots sports development, particularly through partnerships that would provide young athletes with better opportunities.

Also speaking, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hand2Hand Foundation, Richard Aigbedo, said the competition was organised to encourage children to embrace sports, develop physical fitness and build lasting relationships.

Aigbedo explained that the foundation was established to support vulnerable children through education, scholarships and registration with sports clubs.

He said the organisation had previously staged competitions in athletics and judo before introducing handball as part of its efforts to broaden opportunities for young athletes.

“We want to make children happy, get them out of their homes and encourage them to participate in sports. These children need support, and that was one of the reasons I decided to organise this competition,” he said.

Aigbedo, a former handball player, said his personal experience with the sport had strengthened his commitment to providing young athletes with the resources and opportunities needed to develop their talents.

He expressed concern that many gifted Nigerian children were not receiving adequate support, warning that the country risked losing promising talents to other nations that offered better training facilities and competitive opportunities.

He noted that only seven teams participated in the maiden edition but expressed optimism that more area councils would feature in subsequent competitions.

The foundation, he added, would reach out to teams that could not participate in the tournament to encourage their involvement in future editions.

Aigbedo urged the government to prioritise the provision and maintenance of sports infrastructure, while calling on the private sector to complement its efforts through sponsorship of grassroots competitions.

He expressed hope that the championship would be expanded to include under-15 and under-18 categories in the future.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Director of Sports in the FCT, Haruna Ilerika, described the championship as an important initiative for discovering and nurturing young handball talents.

Ilerika said grassroots competitions remained essential to building a strong foundation for athletes who could eventually represent the FCT and Nigeria at national and international levels.

He commended the foundation for investing in children, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds, and described its intervention as a valuable contribution to sports development.

“This is not football alone. We must begin to appreciate other sports, and this is a good initiative aimed at nurturing grassroots handball players.

“These competitions provide the foundation for discovering talents who can eventually reach the national level,” he said.

He also highlighted the social benefits of the tournament, noting that it provided an opportunity for children from different area councils to interact, establish friendships and experience the facilities at the national stadium.

Ilerika assured the foundation of the FCT Sports Department’s willingness to sustain its partnership and support initiatives aimed at improving grassroots sports development in the territory.

He added that collaboration between government and private organisations was necessary to provide regular training opportunities, competitions and a sustainable pathway for young athletes.

The championship brought together young players from different parts of the FCT, reinforcing the importance of grassroots investment in developing the next generation of Nigerian handball stars.