Niger and Lagos States on Monday, put up excellent performances at the first day of the Men’s Handball competition in the ongoing 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) holding in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
In the first men’s handball encounter, Team Niger scored 25 to defeat Team Kano which scored 24 points.
The second match between Lagos State and Sokoto State saw the State of Aquatic Splendour defeating the Caliphate team by scoring 25 points against Sokoto’s 24 points.
Team Edo, however, walked over Team Enugu in the encounter, which also had the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, as one of the important spectators.
Speaking with newsmen at the end of the encounter, Olopade expressed satisfaction over the quality of play and officiating.
After watching the men’s handball match between Lagos State and Sokoto State at the Ake Sports Complex, Abeokuta, Olapade lauded the quality of play so far displayed by the handball players.
He also declared that the standard of the game has improved tremendously.
“The players displayed integrity and maturity while they also exhibited the spirit of fair play. The expectations of the festival are already high, with a world-class opening ceremony that has become a reference point for every athlete and spectator.
“We have very good facilities across the board; we expect natural talents to excel,” Olopade said.
“For me, I want to see new states emerging as a new reference point rather than the old states. For example, today is day two, and I still haven’t seen Delta and Edo on the medal table.
“That doesn’t mean I don’t wish Delta and Edo well, but I just wish to see new states. Cross River is leading the table at the moment,” he noted..
Olopade disclosed that all 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had arrived for the tournament, including Benue, which arrived last.
