Sports
Korean Ambassador Cup, Others Will Help Shape Our Athletes Ahead Of AAG, Olympic -NTF
Joel Ajayi
President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, Alhaji Abdullahi Saidu has expressed that, the just concluded Korean Ambassador Taekwondo championship and many other grassroots competitions Nigerian athletes be ready and fit for All Africa Games as well as Olympics qualifiers.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 11th edition of Korea Ambassador Taekwondo Cup In Abuja Alhaji Saidu said the competition has helped discover new athletes.
According to him, I have seen a lot of new athletes and that is the essence of this competition to discover and nurture athletes to the podium.
“The year is coming to an end, next year is going to be a busy year, all African games, Olympic qualifications, so this kind of event will help federation to know athletes and prepare them.”
He identified funding as a challenge, as many athletes could not make it due to the high cost of things in the country.
When asked about the federation’s effort to qualify more athletes for an international event, especially the Olympics? He answered: “We are making an effort and working hard to ensure we qualify more Nigerians and do well.
“We have chances of winning at the Olympic Okuomose Benjamin Elizabeth Anyanacho and a few other athletes are Olympic prospects at least 3 to four Nigerians will qualify for Olympic.” He assured
NTF President applauded the Korean Embassy for their unwavering support toward promoting the game of taekwondo in the country; “your collaborative support not only strengthens the cultural tie but it provides a platform for Nigerian athletes to showcase their talent on international stages.
“Since the beginning of this tourney, we have witnessed the Skills, determination, and sportsmanship of our athletes across the country.”
He also appreciates the effort of all Stakeholders, charging them not to relax their oar toward the growth and development of the Taekwondo game in the country and beyond.
Speaking also was the South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Young-Chae, who said that, with the positive impact of the Korean embassy Taekwondo championship and other grassroots events, Nigeria as a nation stands a chance of winning medals at the Africa games, Olympics, and other international events.
| ReplyForward |
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured6 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
