I will restore the lost glory of handball -Jubrin Saidu

By Jude Opara, Abuja

The Chairman of the Kogi state Handball Association, Jibrin Saidu has said if given the opportunity to lead the sport at the national level, he would ensure that handball regains its past glory when it used to be rated immediately after football.
Saidu who spoke to Peoples Daily in Abuja after he bagged the Nigerian Sports National Merit Awards for his contributions to the game of handball said he believes that if given the right attention, the sport would once more catch the interest of Nigerians especially the youth.
“For me, if given the privilege and opportunity, I will turn things around, most especially in the federations like the handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), there are much to be done there. If given the privilege, come rain, come shine, as long as there is life you will see it yourself that handball has changed for better. Handball will turn around, in those days, handball used to compete with football, but today where is handball? They are saying that basketball is next to football in Nasarawa state, but we want to make handball next to football in Nigeria”.
On the reintroduction of the national Sports Commission (NSC), Saidu said it is the best thing to have happened to sports in Nigeria because it will make it easier for real professionals to take charge of the sector.
“I as an individual have been clamouring for the return of the NSC and if you check during the time of Yakmut as head of the NSC, you see the level of development of our sports. He showed that a professional sports administrator was in charge of the sector. During that era, Nigeria came out with great laurels with their heads held high and Nigerians were very proud.
“But after that era, have we been able to achieve anything near to that? My wish and advice to Shehu Dikko is to ensure that he surpasses the success of Yakmut and if he goes through the grassroots development and work with the federations and not the sycophant presidents of federations, I think Dikko will achieve success”.
The Secretary General of the Commonwealth Handball Association (CHA) equally reassured his supporters that the award which he said means so much for him would spur him to do more because it means that he has been cherished and appreciated for what he has been able to do.
Saidu advised sports administrators to always be virile, versatile, committed, determined and open to all; to encourage those who do not have the voice to speak for themselves and to stand by them.