By Usman Usman Garba
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has congratulated Kano Pillars Handball Team for emerging winners in Prudent Energy Premier League 2021 held in Abuja and also for being rewarded with N1, 250,000,000 for the success recorded.
The governor received the team at Africa House, Government House yesterday, expressing his appreciation, rejoicing with their success. “I am very happy that is why I am smiling.
So I congratulate you. We are proud of you and we will continue to assist you. “I know you are going for continental competition, Kano State government is ready to give ever assistance possible. “We also involved the private sector in financing our sporting activities.
This is absolutely necessary as Kano is the commercial nub center of the Northern Nigeria and some West African countries. “So we take the advantage to invite private sectors to come into the financing sport activities in our dear state.
“We assure you, we have blueprint on how to finance our various sports activities in the state and Kano Handball Team will not be left out,” said he.
The Secretary General also said the Dala Hard Court Tennis Organization is the only tournament providing accommodation and feeding for the players and officials, hoping that the preliminaries would start receiving the top players on Sunday, men’s draw to commence on Monday and the final to hold on Saturday for men’s single.
He assured that all national players would honor the invitation for both males and females as only the females who are number one in the country and the defending champion is out of the country who promised to join the competition immediately after arriving before the closing of the tournament.
He said there is possibility of having new lady champions this year. Datti then commended the sponsors of the tournament for their positive response, adding that N7.1 million is expected to be spent for the prizes, as men single winner would receive N1 million, lady champions and men doubles would receive N600,000 each. Meanwhile, men’s singles qualifying final results showed that: 1. Ehgiamuose Endurance between Msugh Paul 3/6, 6/3, 10/5 2. Bala Musa between Obekpa Anthony 6/2, 6/4. 3. Adehi Oche between Abamu Mathew 6/4, 6/2. 4. Friday Gabriel between Otu John 7/6 (10), 2/0 rtd DALA 2021 update Men’s singles qualifying finals: 1. Michael Emmanuel between Abua Canice 6/4, 2/6, 10/4. 2. Osewa Michael between Iyorovbe Joseph 6/7(5), 6/3, 10/6. 3. Ezeh Tochukwu between Sani Musa 6/3, 7/5. 4. Enmeruwa Isaac between Itodo Christopher 1/6, 6/2, 10/8. 11 clubs participated in fourth Ahlan pre-season tournament.
The governor has assured them that they are in forefront of sports activities due to their efforts as winning team. On his part, the chairman of the state Sports Commission, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, commended Governor Ganduje and also assured him that they have committed seriously in order to protect the image of the state in sports activities.
“I want to assure you and indeed the state government that our commitment to protect the image of Kano state sports has just begun,” said the governor.
The coach of the Handball Team, Mr. Solomon, has also expressed his appreciation for the financial support and encouragement given to their team by the Ganduje administration.
