Date: 2020-11-17

Coach Isiaka Atanda of Adorable Angels has explained that dedication and the full backing from the club’s chairman helped them to win this year’s Prudent Energy Handball League title, which held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

The team from Ilorin, Kwara State, against all odds, triumphed over veteran teams, gathering 26 points to narrowly beat Edo Dynamos (25 points) to the title. The defending champions, Safety Babes had 24 points, Plateau Peacocks (19 points) and Imo Grasshoppers (18 points) in their maiden appearance at the elite handball league

Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, Atanda said no team gave them a chance of emerging winners, adding that the girls played free of anxiety and were focused on winning the championship.

"The girls, who made up the Adorable Angels, are still in school at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State University, Kwara Polytechnic, and Kwara College of Education. These girls first appeared at the U-12 championship, which they won. In 2014. At the U-16 cadet championship, they finished fourth and have also participated in other championships.

"Living together in the Ilorin metropolis made it easy for them to come together and prepare for several training sessions. And we have our indefatigable Chairman in Mr. Emmanuel Sunday Olubiyo, who is always there to back us up in anything, ranging from handball kits and up to even paying the girls’ school fees just to ensure they remained focused.

"I delighted that we won the title in our first appearance because hard work stood out for us against the veterans of the game. We were never given any chance, even someone advised we should try so as not to be relegated to the lower division and I laughed. But the story is different now because we are the champions of the 2020 edition of the Prudent Energy Handball League,” he stated.