By Solomon Nwoke

ASPAC of Benin Republic Handball sharp shooter, Aliyu Shehu provided nine goals to see his side beating the hard fighting Sokoto Rima by 26 -24 in the last game of the morning session of the 3rd Sam Ocheho-InnJoo international Handball Championship yesterday at Rowe Park Handball Courts, Lagos.

The Benin Republic side were leading the scoreline before the Sotoko Rimas leveled up at the nick of half time at 15-15.
Speaking at the end of the game, the match winner, Shehu of ASPAC expressed happiness for his exploit in the game.

“The game is good and we enjoyed ourselves. I am very happy helping my team to win the match against a Nigerian side, it is my desire to help my team lift the trophy at the end of the championship”, he said.

Also Speaking was the coach of Sokoto Rima, Abdulhakeem Yakubu who blamed their loss to Ramadan fast. Rima lost their first game at the weekend to Eko Utd of Lagos 20-30.

He said, “We lost our first game due the Ramadan fast most of the players are engaged in. All the players are fasting and it affected them. Out of 14 of them only one is not fasting, so that reduced the strength of the players and their game as well. But we are picking up our normal tactical game. In our next game we shall continue to improve insha allah”

In some of the matches played earlier yesterday in the male category, Idah Pillars and Civil Defenders ended their tie in a draw with both sides scoring 28 goals apiece.
Lagos Seasiders beat Flowers of Benin Republic 27-21 in the female category, while Defence Babes inflicted the second defeat on Edo Dynamos, winning 25-23. On the the opening day, Idah Lions defeated Delta Force 29-27, ASPAC OF Benin Republic beat Eko United 32-21 in the male category.

In the female category, Imo Grasshoppers defeated Delta Force 33-23, Edo Dynamos lost to Flowers of Benin 21-22, while ASPAC defeated Lagos Seasiders 29-23.
Sponsors of the event, Innjoo Mobile Technology, has called on the fans to come out in large numbers to cheer their teams to victory.

Innjoo’s Country Manager, Rakesh Rocque, who made this call, stated that the presence of the fans would boost the performance of the teams as the organiser, Sam Ocheo also enjoined the teams to eschew violence and play according to the rules of the game.