Lagos State Tops Sam Ocheho Inivational Handball.

Lagos male handball team boosted their ambition to win gold at the 'Eko 2012' 18th National sports festival after winning an inter-states invitational tournament in Lagos at the weekend.

Lagos team one toppled competitions from four other states; Delta, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti to win the preparatory tournament organised by the patron of the Lagos state handball association, Samuel Ocheho inside the Mobolaji Johnson indoor sports hall, Rowe park, Yaba.

Speaking after Lagos male team defeated Ekiti 31 - 27 in the epic final game of the one week championship, Chairman Lagos state handball association, Adeola Opeifa restated the ambition to win gold in both male and female handball events at the national games holding in the state in November.

 "We are happy that we won the Sam Ocheho cup, its was a wonderful game, a show of skills and experience. For the fact that we are hosting the festival, it is a sign that we are on the right track toward the games. From what we have seen here, we are preparing to be on the medal table and I still maintain that Lagos handball teams will win gold" said Opeifa.

 Opeifa said "Lagos team was going into what we called fashion close camp in the next one week. Its a way of preparing the players toward the festival and by first week in September we are moving into close camp.

For the team captain Dikko Ahmed, who emerged the most valuable player at the tournament, the team will continue to work hard and train harder for the National. Sports festival. Dikko said " this tournament has been a great exposure for all the team but we will get back to training as soon as possible.

We will get on with the game and I believe we will win gold at the National sports festival". Head coach, Lagos Handball team, Anthony Idohor said the team has gained valuable experience from the championship. He said "Lagos is a team to beat at the forthcoming National sports festival.

Now we have seen and know the areas that we have to work on and I have seen the other side of our team, the other states that came and played against our team. We are going back to the drawing board and do our home work, so we can adjust and inject some new players into the team as well".