Sam Ocheho Invitational Handball Tourney Will Ad Value To Handball, Sam

Eight States will converge in Lagos State  for the maiden edition of the Sam Ocheho Invitational Handball Championship billed for 28th of  July through 5th of August, 2012 at the Mobolaji Johnson Sportshall, Rowe Park, Yaba.

The Patron of Lagos State Handball Association, Sam Ocheho, claimed that the one week tournament was part of his contribution towards the development of handball in Nigeria, said the event which was being organised in conjunction with he Lagos State Handball Association would attract Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara States.

"There are complains that the sport," handball" is dying and i needed to show example that we do not need to complain but to work hard to stage a competition. This is the first of many that i expect to come on annual basis".

"Eight states to compete with each other preparatory to the National Sports Festival and also to create an avenue to showcase handball.Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Delta, Kogi and Kwara will vie for honours"

"The major driver is the development of handball in Nigeria.Handball used to be second to football in the 70's but the standard has nosedived, a move which gingered him to chnage the face of Handball through the tournament"

The former Chairman of Lagos State Handball Association, who doubles as the board member of the Handball Federation of Nigeria, said sponsoring the tournament would spur corporate bodies and sports philanthropists to invest heavily towards the improvement of the sport, stressing that it was disheartening that handball which was prominent and second to football in the seventies has nosedived.

According to him, the competition which serve as an avenue for the competitior to keep themselves in good shape for the EKO 2012 Games and also an avenue for the players to assess their readiness for the Games in November, 2012.

"Well as a competitor in the market.I believe the competition is going to prepare them and keep them in shape for the National Sports Festival.Its going to be a motivational avenue for them because there is no point in training all year without competitions for them.This is going to be a morale booster for them and i hope it would achieve its set objective