Coach Ayo Joshua of the Confluence Stars Handball Club of Lokoja, on Sunday, said his players lost their game to defending champions Kano Pillars due to inexperience.
The fifth match of Day seven played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, saw both teams scoring the same points (20-20) at the end of the first half.
On resumption of the second half, Kano Pillars showed their opponents that they were masters of the game by defeating the stars 40- 29 at the end.
Coach Joshua, however, told NAN that most of his players had injuries that cost them the match.
“They (players) lost focus in the second half due to lack of inexperience, the players were tired were overrun.
“They used all their energy in the first half to have a draw, one of our major problems is that our big players have injuries.
” We will go back to our drawing board and work on lapses before our next match on Monday,” he said.
On his part, Solomon Yola, the coach of Kano Pillars, said they won their seventh game due to hard work and determination.
“We thank God for this victory, we will continue to fight to maintain our position as the defending champions.
“This is the first phase of the league and we still have the second phase to play before the end of the year.
“We will continue to fight with the spirit of winning all our games, we want to remain at the top of the league,” he said.
Yola commended the Governor of Kano state Abdullahi Ganduje for supporting the team.
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“The team is well motivated because of the tremendous support of the executive governor of Kano state.
“We will fight to retain our title as the defending champions and to make the state proud,” he said.
In the other matches, Police Machine drew 31-31 against Lagos Seasiders in the first match of the day.
Safety Shooters defeated Benue Buffaloes 34-26 in the second match. Niger United beat D: Defenders 34-19.
Owena Kings of Akure walko over Kada Stars of Kaduna in the fourth game.
Rima Strikers of Sokoto beat Tojemarine Academy 31–30 in the last match of Day seven.
Sunday is a resting day for the women’s matches.
Ten female and 12 male clubs are participating in the league.
The male teams include Benue Buffaloes of Markudi, Confluence Kings of Lokoja, De Defenders of Civil Defence, Kada Stars of Kaduna, Kano Pillars of Kano, Niger United of Minna, and Owena Kings of Akure.
Police Machines, Rima Strikers of Sokoto, Safety Shooters of FRSC, Seasider Boys of Lagos, and Tojemarine Academy of Lagos are also in contention.
The league, being played at two venues in the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, began on Monday and is expected to end on June 2.
