Gateway Games 2024: Team Ogun Handball Male , Female Zoom into Final As Ogun Battles Kwara In Male Football Final

It was a double joy for host Team-Ogun on Monday in the Handball event of the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival, as its male and female teams are now in final for the ultimate prize, the gold medal, just as the state will be playing in the final of male football event against Kwara State this Tuesday at the magnificent mainbowl of the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Kuto, Abeokuta 

The team defeated hard-fighting Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja side 29-25 in one of the male-handball semi-finals played at the new look Alake Sports Complex Ijeja in Abeokuta 

The highly charged match , saw both sides ending the first half of the contest in 14-13 in favour of Ogun before extending the lead and eventually finished the ticket for the final in the Handball event 

Similarly the Team-Ogun women side had earlier zoomed into final of female Handball event after beating their opponents from kogi State 24-19 in a semi-final match played at the same venue 

The team playing in their traditional yellow jersey had earlier beaten the confluence girls in the group of the games 

Speaking after the match, Head Coach of Ogun Handball Team, Shola Sekoni expressed satisfaction with his players’ style of play.

“I feel so great we’re coming gradually, the players have given me 75 per cent today, I’m sure the remaining percentage will be added at the final.

“The players were motivated by the gesture of Gov. Dapo Abiodun. He paid all the arrears and he has also promised reward them and they are looking forward to the promise.. 

“Before getting to this stage, we played agaii Kogi, Plateau and Delta before meeting Kogi again in the semi final.

“I expect gold in the final,” he said.

One of the team Ogun players, Abdulrasaq Idowu, expressed confidence that the state would be victorious in the final.

Idowu, however, noted that handball could be more popular in the country if government organised more competitions.

” If government at all levels can organise more competitions, the game will be more popular.

“Local government competitions, schools competitions, inter state competitions, more national and international competitions will go a long way in encouraging youths to fall in love with handball,” she said.

The Team Ogun Female side will clash with Sokoto who defeated Edo 32-25 in the other semi-final game played on the same day and venue