It was a bittersweet situation for Defending Champions Kano Pillars and Safety Babes as they started the defense of their titles on Matchday 1 of the Prudent Energy Handball Premier League 2020.
For Kano Pillars, they struggled before they eventually, howbeit with struggle, defeated former champion Niger United 20-19 in what several pundits termed the “battle of champions”.
Safety Babes weren’t that lucky as they lost 29-27, to Edo Dynamos who were a hard nut to crack.
Other matches in the men category saw Rima Strikers inspired by their player Anas Muhd defeating Plateau Vipers 30-26 despite Promise Akpan efforts with vital goals which weren’t enough while Yahya Owolabi inspired Lagos Seasiders trounced Kada Stars 34-24.
Safety Shooters had to dig deep to defeat De Defenders 24-21 while Confluence Stars scored three goals in less than a minute to the end of the match to defeat Delta Force 25-24 in what was an entertaining encounter between the two rivals.
Meanwhile, COAS Shooters didn’t need to play any match as they walked over Borno Spiders 10-0 who as at the time of the match, haven’t arrived at the venue of the event.
In the female category Seasiders Babes fought tooth and nail to eventually get a well deserved victory as they defeated Defender Babes 28-26 while an experienced Imo Grasshoppers saw off Kada Queens with a 27-19 victory.
Plateau Peacock comfortably defeated Desert Queens 30-11 while new girls Adorable Queens got a big result as they defeated Benue Queens 38-25
Match Day 1 Results
FEMALE
Defender Babes — Seasider Babes 26–28.Imo Grasshoppers — Kada Queens 27–19.Edo Dynamos — Safety Babes 29–27.Plateau Peacocks — Desert Queens 30–11.Adorable Angels — Benue Queens 38-25
MALE
Rima Strikers — Plateau Vipers 30–26.COAS Shooters — Borno Spiders 10 –00 (W/O).Kada Stars — Lagos Seasiders 24–34.Niger United — Kano Pillars 19–20. Defenders — Safety Shooters 21– 24.Delta Force — Confluence Stars 24–25.
Match Day 2 Fixtures
Male
COAS Shooters – Niger UnitedD: Defenders – Kada StarsPlateau Vipers – Delta ForceLagos Seasiders –Confluence StarsDesert Queens – Kada QueensSafety Shooters — Kano Pillars
Female
Imo Grasshoppers- Safety BabesEdo Dynamos – Defender BabesSeasider Babes – Benue Queens.