By: Chinedum Ohanusi
The NSCDC Defender Babes of Abuja have been crowned champions of the 3rd North Central Handball Championships, after they braved the odds to down their arch rivals, FRSC Safety Babes 35-26, in a tense finalé, which ended on Friday, in Makurdi, Benue State.
After Thursday’s penultimate games were decided, Plateau Peacocks of Jos, with 7 points, but a rather pricarious superior goals difference of +4 appeared to be the favorites to win the crown; having been the first team to beat the women defending champions, FRSC Safety Babes 29-28, on Wednesday.
But the Defender Babes had better ideas, knowing that a win, that is 2 points gained, with a goals difference of +5 or more, will be enough to grab the bragging rights, over their more illustrious city rivals, Safety Babes, and the Peacocks from Jos, who did not play on Friday.
Peacocks eventually reclined to second spot, while the dethroned champions, with two loses in the hands of their main opponents settled for 3rd.
The last two spots were occupied by teams from the host state; as Benue Queens finished 4th with 4 points; while Dream Girls of Gboko brought up the rear in 5th spot, with zero points.
Meanwhile, FRSC Safety Shooters of Abuja, successfully defended their men’s title, after drawing from all their experiences, to beat Niger United of Minna 28-22, to win the tournament with 14 points and a 100% win record.
The trilling finalé, pitted the two former Prudent Energy Premier League champions against each other, and they did not disappoint spectators at the refurbished Courts, at the Aper Aku Stadium, to grace the closing of the championships.
Going into the title decider, both sides were level on 12 points, but the side from Minna with a better goals difference, had led the men’s log, from the opening day.
The free scoring Niger United, were eventually beaten back to second; and they finished ahead of Confluence Stars of Kogi who yesterday won their game against Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia 15-6, and later drew 24-24 with Benue Buffaloes to take their points tally to 9.
The nine points, put Confluence Stats one point clear of Benue Buffaloes, whose own enthralling 16-14 victory over Plateau Viper of Jos, took their points tally to 8.
The other Abuja-based team, Poverty Fighters, ended their debut campaign on a high by beating Suleja Shooters 30-20. The victory meant they finished with three wins, a draw and three losses, to place overall 5th.
Plateau Vipers 6th, Nasarawa Ambassadors 7th and Suleja Shooters 8th, all finished with 2 points, and the fourteen team championships in Makurdi was the first to be staged outside of Abuja.
