The handball federation of Nigeria (HFN) gave an appointment to two top Female handballs Coaches Bukola Duru and Justina Akpulo to coach the national under 18 and 20 female handball teams.

In a speech from the HFN secretariat on Tuesday, July 27th 2021, coaches were appointed not just due to their experience and skills but in other to ensure equity, justice, and fairness in giving female team the chance to create impact in the developments and growth of handball in the country.

Bukola Duru, happens to be one of the unquestionable female coaches who will work in the male category of the top-tier prudent energy handball league and she will be in charge of the national under 20 female handball team. 

The seaside coach from Lagos has also made her mark in the league by being one of its top coaches as the team has always finished on the podium of the top-tier league for two years now.

The Lagos seaside coach will be assisted by Coach Isiaka Atanda, She was the one that leads a team known as the Adorable Angels of Ilorin to win the prudent Energy head ball premier league title on their debut in the tier league. 

Coach Justina Akpulo, which is known as the coach of the experienced top handball league side, Imo-Grass hoppers, will be the one coach the National under 18 female handball team.

She will be assisted by the head coach of Bayelsa Queens, Opuena Yekorugba.

She recently got promoted to the prudent energy handball Premier league in the just concluded National Division in the handball league in Edo State.

According to Mr. Samuel Ocheho the Chairman Caretaker Committee of the H.F.N.

He noted that appointing the female coaches was to change as well as balance the equation in the favour of the feminine gender in the sport. He believes that this will encourage them to a greater height.

Ocheho went further to explain that before now, our national teams, most especially the female teams, lack what is called “gender sensitivity in the appointment of coaches”

Supporting his views, Ocheho stated that in line with the Olympic spirit which has already been inculcated, they have decided to change the nation and ensure that is balanced in favour of the feminine gender.

He believes that it will surely go a long way in exposing and creating a better career path for the ladies and female gender as a whole.

Ocheho also stipulates that the appointment of the female coaches will also be of great benefit to the national teams as a whole as this will also help them to operate at the highest level of the Nigeria handball.

Also, would bring their wealth of experience to bear in delivering their duty which will bring about by the response and support of the stakeholders to create room for the development of female coaches. 

In Ocheho’s words “I believe that our national teams would be better as the female coaches have operated at the peak level of Nigeria handball”.