Kano Pillars, Safety Babes win Prudent Energy Handball Premier League

Kano Pillars and Safety Babes have won the men and women categories of the 2022 Prudent Energy Premier Handball League, which ended at the Indoor Sports Hall of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, yesterday.

The teams, which led at the end of the first phase of the competition in Abuja, eventually finished the work by also topping the tables at the end of the final phase in Lagos.

Playing in the last game of the competition, Pillars ended the competition with a hard fought 21 to 21 draw with Safety Babes, which kept them unbeaten in the competition.

In the other fixtures, D: Defenders defeated Confluence Stars 29 to 28, while Benue Buffaloes lost to Police Machine 25 to 28, just as Owena Kings played a 32-32 draw against Tojemarine Academy and Niger United white-watched Rima Strikers 33 to 24.

In the women class, Rima Queens defeated Bendel Dynamos 31 to 29, while Safety Babes surprisingly lost their unbeaten run to Defenders Babes, who beat them 22 to 25.

Speaking after the final games, Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) President, Samuel Ocheho, thanked the Prudent Group for its commitment in the last five years of the league, while appealing to the sponsor to extend their support of the competition.

“Today marks the end of the five-year commitment of Prudent Energy to the Handball Federation of Nigeria. It has been a wonderful and a glorious five years.

“The partnership with Prudent Energy during this period has grown in leaps and bounds. I am actually surprised at how long we have come together on this journey. It has been a mutually beneficial relationship between both parties.”

“You have seen what we have done in the last five years, and we believe that we deserve the chance to continue the partnership,” Ocheho said.

In his speech, Prudent Group Chairman, AbdulWasiu Sowami, said the last five years of the relationship between Prudent Group and HFN has been a commitment to fulfill its obligation under the sponsorship agreement.

“This is a testament to our belief in our youths and sports development. Before our sponsorship five years ago, handball as a sport did not attract any significant corporate attention and support. I’m quite pleased to state that with the impact of our sponsorship and the proactiveness of HFN leadership, our athletes have excelled locally and internationally,” he said.