The Champions of the recently concluded National Division One Handball Championship in Benin City, Bayelsa Queens are appealing to the State Government to fulfill its promise of supporting them financially.
The Bayelsa State Female Handballers were among the athletes that made the State proud by winning national laurels in July in Benin City this year and the U18 Female Championship in Lagos in April this year.
Governor Douye Diri hosted and met with the players and Coaches at Government House in Yenagoa where he assured the players that funds would be released early to them in their future outings.
Despite the assurance from the Governor, financial support has yet to come to these players with the necessary financial support.
The State Male and Female Handball Teams were made to travel to Benin City, Edo State for the National Division One Handball Championship where the Female team emerged Champions thereby qualifying for the Prudent Energy Handball Premiership without funds, and ended up playing the competition on empty stomach.
The team had to rely on borrowed funds from private individuals who they are yet to repay.
Recently, the Male and Female Football Teams and Bayelsa born Olympic Silver Medalist, Blessing Oborududu were handsomely rewarded for their Aiteo Cup triumphs, but there is no reward yet for the Handball team that has brought more glory to the State
Speaking with a player who pleaded anonymity, she urged the State Government to come to their rescue because they are the verge of missing out of the Prudent Energy Handball Premiership coming up next month due to lack of funds, especially for feeding during camping.
She went further to say that despite the enormous sacrifices during the National Division One Handball Championship which they ended up winning, nothing has been done yet to reward them.
“The State Government should come to our rescue because we are on the verge of missing out of the Prudent Energy Handball Premiership coming up next month because of lack of funds for feeding during camping ”
“Despite sacrificing all we had to play in the National Division One Handball Championship which we ended up winning, nothing has been done yet to reward us.”
“Some of us are students, while some are trying to enter the University but because of how things currently are financial, we may not be able to make it to the Premiership which would be a shame because we have sacrificed a lot be to in the position we are today but unfortunately the State Government are not helping us despite the promises made to us by the Governor himself after winning the U18 Championship in April this year.”
The Bayelsa State Female Handball Team are the current Champions of the National U18 Handball Championship, National Division One Handball Championship and are due to participate in World Handball U18 Competition in Sweden on a yet to be fixed date.
