Uzor lauds organisers as handball hits decisive stage at Niger Delta Games
The Technical Lead of Handball Event at the ongoing Niger Delta Games, John Uzor, has described the atmosphere at the competition as intense and highly competitive, as teams battle fiercely
The Technical Lead of Handball Event at the ongoing Niger Delta Games, John Uzor, has described the atmosphere at the competition as intense and highly competitive, as teams battle fiercely for medals in Benin City, Edo State.
Speaking in an interview, Uzor admitted that the pressure has been enormous, largely due to the determination of every participating state to emerge victorious and the introduction of stricter eligibility requirements by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“The general atmosphere is a bit pressured because every team wants to win,” Uzor said. “Based on the new rule that the NDDC came up with — that you must have your NIN coaches are really battling hard to ensure their players fit into the class.”
Despite the pressure, Uzor praised the organisation of the event, describing it as outstanding and competitive. According to him, the level of commitment shown by the teams reflects their hunger for medals as the tournament heads into its decisive stages.
“We shall play the quarterfinals and semifinals tomorrow (Tuesday),” he disclosed. “We shall follow the format of qualification given by the NDDC, though some people kicked against it.”
Uzor, who served as Scouting Lead in the previous edition of the Games, emphasized that the tournament remains a fertile ground for talent discovery. He revealed that several players identified during the last Games have progressed significantly in their careers.
“In the last edition, I scouted a lot of players. Six of them played for the national team, about 10 featured for different clubs, and two of them went professional,” he stated proudly. “I am looking forward to seeing the ones that can measure up to that standard in this ongoing edition.”
His remarks reinforced the developmental vision of the Games, which is aimed not just at competition but at unearthing future stars for Nigerian handball.
Uzor also reflected on the steady growth of handball in Nigeria, particularly during the leadership of former Handball Federation president, Samuel Ocheho. He credited that era for revitalising the sport through the introduction of multiple tournaments.
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“Handball has grown especially in the past eight years under former President Samuel Ocheho,” Uzor noted. “We were ranked sixth best in Africa from over 24 participating nations. That shows progress.”
However, he stressed that more structured competitions like the Niger Delta Games are needed to consolidate those gains.
“If other organisations can follow what the NDDC is doing now, the sky will be the limit for handball,” he added.
While commending the initiative, Uzor expressed serious concerns about age falsification in the Under-20 category.
According to him, the integrity of the competition must be safeguarded if its primary aim of athlete discovery is to be achieved.
“We are doing Under-20 now and we are still noticing some cheats in ages and people coming up with frivolous excuses just to participate,” he warned. “The essence of this competition is for the discovery of athletes. When you bring overage players into the tournament, the aim is defeated.”
He called for stricter monitoring and collective responsibility from participating states to curb the menace.
“Participating teams should assist the NDDC and not wait until everything is done for them. Other states should contribute their quota towards the development of the Niger Delta,” Uzor concluded.
