Handball fans in Benin and its environs are in for the best of the sport when the Ardova League begins in the ancient city today. On offer are the league men and women’s titles won by Niger United of Minna and Safety Babes of Abuja respectively.
In the opening games, Niger United will take on Benue Buffaloes, while Safety Babes will meet COAS Babes.
The defending champions know the enormity of the task ahead of them and have stated their readiness to retain their titles.
Niger United’s coach, Adebayo Yekini, yesterday, said that his team was ready for the challenges despite losing John Shagari to Tojemarine Academy and two goalkeepers to clubs abroad. He said some other players also left the team in pre-season.
He said, “I can say that we are ready to defend our title. It is not going to be easy,but we have trained hard and perfected our strategy. All we have to do is give our best on the court no matter the team we are playing against.
“We have lost four of our players to other teams both at home and abroad but it will not prevent us from winning our title as we have quality replacements for them.”
Ada Okey of Safety Babes said her team is eyeing its fourth consecutive title and fifth overall, adding, “In the last six years, Safety Babes HC has lifted the title four times. We did not lift the trophy during the inaugural Prudent Energy Handball League in 2018 where we finished second and in 2020. We remain the only club that has lifted the title three consecutive times and by the Grace of God, we are targeting the fourth title this year.”
In other games in the male category, Tojemarine Academy will take on Adamawa Warriors, Correction Boys will confront Kano Pillars, Safety Shooters will battle Sunshine Kings, and Confluence Stars meet Rima Strikers, while Lagos Seasiders will lock hornswith D.Defenders.
In the women category, Defender Babes will take on Imo Grasshoppers, Rima Queens and River Queens will lock horns, Bendel Dynamos has a date with Seasider Babes, while Delta Queens will take on Plateau Peacocks.
