Angola: Peace Has Taken Handball Around Country – Official

4 April 2011

Luanda — The peace that Angola reached on April 4, 2002 has enabled handball to reach the 18 provinces of the country.

This was said Sunday in Luanda by the chairman of the Angolan Handball Federation (FAA), Pedro Godinho. Speaking to Angop on the nine years of peace, Pedro Godinho said handball is currently in the 18 provinces of the country, 15 of which at top level.

He said the provinces of Zaire (north) and Lunda Norte (northeast) are out of regular national competitions, but turn up on special tournaments. “We have managed to take two national senior championships to two provinces that suffered so much with the war – Bie and Moxico – and, as a result, several people joined handball, all this thanks to peace,” he stressed.

Another gain peace brought about, according to Pedro Godinho, has to do with the possibility of teams to travel around the country by road, contrary to the past when they had to fly, which rendered to costs to be high. He said there are about 5,000 handball players in the country, both in men and women categories, most of which in training stages.

As a result, he added, Angola has become one of the few countries in the world being the continental winner in the three categories (infant, junior and senior women). He said as well handball is attracting teenagers and youths that would otherwise stray into drugs, alcohol and prostitution.

On the other hand, he appealed to business people to help with the development and expansion of the sport around the country.

AllAfrica – All the Time