N’Delta Handball Team Leaves For Sweden

The Niger Delta Regional Youth Handball contingent has left to represent the country in a youth championship going on in Sweden.

The team was nominated by the National Handball Federation to represent Nigeria in what is called the Pately Cup, which has been in place for the past 40 years and could be likened to the Junior World Cup.

Speaking to Tidesports  source before their take-off from the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tara and Thomson Consultancy firm, the co-sponsor of the team, Mr Quashi Thomson said that the preparation for the event started 18 months ago.

He explained: “We started this project 18 months ago and we had the team to represent Nigeria in the handball championship in Sweden. The Pately Cup is like the Junior World Cup for handball and we hope the team will do well”.

According to Mr Thomson, the team comprising both male and female youths numbering 32 are Under-13 and Under-15 respectively, noting that the team’s chances are bright as Nigerian teams had won the trophy in the past.

Also interviewed was the captain of the team, Mr Dawari Sogo, who noted that the contingent were traveling under the auspices of the sports department of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

“The team, which was selected from Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta states is participating in the tournament for the first time,” said Sogo.

He disclosed that the Niger State is being represented by an Under-13 team, pointing out that the Niger Delta contingent were properly trained and hoped that with the momentum of the players, “we are going there to win and not just to participate”.

Shedie Okpara