BY ADETUNJI ADEKANMI OLUSOLA

Poverty Fighters Handball Club of Abuja made their eagerly awaited debut in the North Central Handball Championships in Makurdi, by holding Prudent Energy Handball Premier League side, Benue Buffaloes to a thrilling 20-20 draw.

The match had both spectators and officials applauding the great handball display from the youngsters from Abuja, and the resilience of the hosts to contain their rampaging moves.

The match was officially the first competition for the team, which were inaugurated in January this year, and they led 11-8 at the interval and maintained the three goals lead to the second half.

In other Day 1 matches decided at the refurbished Handball Courts of the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi,
FRSC Safety Shooters crushed Nasarawa Ambassadors 38-20; Niger United of Minna drubbed Suleja Shooters 46-17, in the local derby.

Elsewhere, Plateau Vipers of Jos shocked Confluence Stars of Kogi 23-18.

In the women’s fixture played on an opening day, Dream Girls of Gboko went down 15-39 to the defending champions, FRSC Safety Babes, of Abuja, while the encounter between NSCDC Defender Babes and Plateau Peacocks of Jos, produced the second stalemate of Day 1. 29-29 it ended.

Matches in both categories will continue at the same venue.

All 14 teams listed for the tournament arrived in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, and officials of the nine men’s and five women’s participating teams held a Technical Meeting with the Organising Committee, Referees, and Match Delegates to ratify the draws and bye-laws to be used for the competition.

The weeklong championships is sponsored by George Ojih Foundation and organised under the auspices of the Mega Handball Veterans of Abuja, led by Saidu Jibrin Ojih.