Yewa College, Ilaro and Iganmode Grammar School, Ota have won the 2nd Chief Adetunji Jibowu Handball Competition for Secondary Schools concluded on Friday at Alake Sports Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The Ilaro based Yewa College successfully defended the trophy won at at the maiden edition held in 2019 after defeating her counterpart, God’s Heritage Academy from Ipokia by 4/1 in the final watched by handball veterans from Ogun State and others across the country and beyond.
In the same vein, Iganmode boys proved tough for Ijemo Titun High School, Abeokuta as the match ended 5/4 in favour of Ota boys, thus carted home the giant trophy and bountiful cash reward.
However, in the third place encounters, it was mixed fortune for African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta as they won in the boys category by beating Adeoye Lambo Memorial School, Obada 3/1, while the girls team lost 0/3 to Macjob Grammar School, Abeokuta.
Moreover, in the veteran match decided, Yellow Team led by George Adeyemi, Chairman, Ogun Handball Veterans defeated Green Team led by his Vice Chairman by 4/3 goals.
Speaking with Newsnigeriaonline.com.ng, Adeyemi aka Osawe expressed satisfaction at the performance of all the teams, while he gave kudos to their coaches, officials for hitch free and job well done.
He added that the future of handball is very bright, while urging other well meaning individuals to support the game just as sports should not be left in hands of government alone to sponsor.
Similarly, he promised that the next year edition would be organised in a bigger way than this year, noting that days of the competition would be expanded to accommodate more schools and to have playing time
In the same vein, the Chairman, Oyo State Sports Council, Hon Gbenga Adewusi corroborated Adeyemi view on the future of the game in Nigeria, adding that all the veterans across the South West zone would do their power to ensure that the glory days of handball returned to the zone.
Also, in her remarks, Princess Folakemi Iyabode Rotimi, the Director of Sports, Ogun State Sports Council commended the organiser of the school sports competition for working in unity.
She hereby pledged the support of the council in ensuring that talents discovered would be properly monitored and nurtured to national and international limelight.
Meanwhile, the highlight of the event was presentation of trophies, certificates, medals and cash reward to school teams, and individual players that excelled at the competition.
In the individual award, the Best Pivot award in the boys and girls category went to Adetolu Quadri of Ijemo Titun High School, and Rafiat Ishola of God’s Heritage Academy respectively.
The Most Valuable Player award in the boys cadre went to Yusuf Ogundimu of Iganmode Grammar School, while Jelilat Lateef of Yewa College won the girls category.
Newsnigeriaonline.com.ng recalls that the handball competition was organised by Ogun State Handball Veterans under the leadership of Adeyemi George, aka Osawe in collaboration with the Ogun State Handball Association.
