Ojih accuses HFN board of destroying Nigerian handball

Chairman, Kogi State Handball Association and former Nigerian international, Saidu Jibril Ojih, has accused the board of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) of destroying the game.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, Ojih, who is also Secretary-General of Commonwealth Handball Association, accused the board of disobeying the rules of the game, especially as it affects the registration of players.

Ojih said that Section 3D of the handball statute bars players, whether local or international, from registering for two clubs, adding, however, that the law has been abused by HFN board members.

He cited a petition sent by Confluence Stars to the technical committee of the Prudent Energy Handball Premier League, alleging that a player, Yaya Owolabi, with jersey No.10 fielded by Tojemarine of Lagos, is a bonafide and registered player of Flower Handball Club of Benin Republic, having represented the club at the recently concluded African Club Handball Championships in Tunisia.

According to him, “it is so unfortunate that the president of the Federation wants everything done in his own way to the detriment of the sport. You don’t register a player and still give him to another club outside your league without following the proper transfer guidelines. 

“I am a board member of the Handball Federation of Nigeria and we are not aware that a proper transfer was made for the player. We have no idea the money from these players’ transfers came to the Federation. 

“It is unacceptable and it is in light of these anomalies I want to inform Nigerians that our sport is being killed by the people we call board members. The minister and the permanent secretary may not know what is going on in the federation.”