Technical Director of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Ferdinand Emeana, has disclosed that only one phase of the Prudent Energy Premier League will hold this year, as against two in previous editions.
Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, Emeana said the hiccup was as a result of the recent National Sports Festival in Benin City, Edo State, adding that the federation would combine the two phases in one championship.
“Unfortunately, we will not organise the Prudent Energy Premier League in two phases this year. We won’t be doing the first and second phase, what we will be having is a consolidated one-shot, which will hold in October.
“Due to the National Sports Festival, we did not have the time to slot in the first phase of the premier league. And we needed to hold the division one league championship, which will hold between July 9 and July 17 in Benin City,” he said, adding that the federation was also planning to include clubs promoted from division one league to the premier league sponsored by Prudent Energy.
“We are organising the next Prudent Energy Premier League in such a way that those who were relegated at the last edition will give way so that those coming from division one will have a place in this year’s edition,” he said.
The Guardian recalls that Adorable Angels and Safety Shooters won the 2020 championship held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Meanwhile, the federation’s technical director has disclosed that senior women handball national players are in camp preparing for the African Handball Nations Championship in Cameroun.
“Our senior female national team has been in camp since May 2 in Abuja, preparing for the African Women Nations Cup holding in Cameroun. The championship will start on June 6 and the team is expected to leave for the tournament from June 4,” he stated.