The reigning champions of the National Division One Handball Championship, Bayelsa Queens are pleading with the State Government and Sports’ Stakeholders for financial support as they are about to miss out on the upcoming Prudent Energy Handball Premiership that will be taking place at Abuja in 17 days time for lack of funds.
The team are yet to commence training due to the uncertainty regarding the finance needed for the competition.
Speaking with a player who pleaded anonymity, she said that the players are not happy because it took them time to train, they left their houses, trained morning and evening without good food, without taking good care of themselves just to win laurels for the State. But till today nothing had been done to appreciate them for a job well done and it’s very bad.
When asked how prepared they are for the upcoming competition she said that they are not prepared yet because of a lack of funds and people don’t want to waste their time like they did before because they have family and things to take care of.
When quizzed further on the implication of not making it to the competition proper she responded that they will be relegated to the National Division one and it will be a huge shame to the State and it means that all their hard work would have been in vain.
“Well we are not happy because it took us time to train, we left our jobs, we trained morning and evening without Good food, and without taking good care of ourselves just to win laurels for the state but till today nothing had been done to appreciate us for a job well done and it is very bad.”
“We are not prepared yet because of lack of funds and people don’t want to waste their time as we did before because we have family and things to take care of.”
“We are going to be relegated to the National Division one and it will be a huge shame to the state and it means that all our hard work will be in vain.”
Speaking with another player who also pleaded anonymity said that she lost her job of N22,000 because she went for the competition and it’s like the state government wants them back to the street and if they do the government will start preaching that the girl child should go to school and be useful but unfortunately the government is not rewarding them for their exploit in bringing glory and fame to Bayelsa State.
She further pleaded with the first lady of Bayelsa State Dr. Mrs. Gloria Diri helps them as if they are her biological children.
“I even lost my job of N22,000 because I went for the competition and it’s like they want us to go back to the street and if we do that, they will start preaching that the girl child should go back to school and be useful but unfortunately the government are not rewarding us for our exploits in bringing glory and fame to Bayelsa State”
“I am pleading with the first lady of Bayelsa State Dr. Mrs. Gloria Diri to help us as if we are her biological children”.
All efforts in getting the team’s Coach to speak to us proved abortive at the time of writing this report.
The Prudent Energy Handball Premiership will start on the 21st of October 2021 in Abuja.
