Monrovia – The Liberia National Handball Association (LNHA) is expected to present to the Ministry of Youth and Sports a trophy won by Planet 44 female team in the just-ended Annual Mayor Marathon and Athletic Event held in Kenema, Sierra Leone.
The tournament started from December 27, 2019, and ended January 1, 2020 with the Liberian club been crowned champions.
Planet 44 team won the first place in the female category after it drew its first game 7-7 and won the second game 10-7 games against her opponents from Sierra Leone while the male team Planet 44 didn’t win any trophy after losing their two games played against their counterparts.
Jonathan Kollie, President of the Liberia Handball Association, told a FrontPageAfrica that several registered teams of the association were invited to express their interest to go for the event but only Planet 44’s male and female teams.
“The trophy won by our female team means a lot because Liberia is a footballing country and since Handball was introduced in this country in 2004, this is the only team from the LNHA to win a trophy internationally and I think is a major victory that should be celebrated by all Liberians,” Kollie said.
Kollie explained that members of the team’s delegation returned home doing the second week of January 2020 and their officials informed the Ministry of Youth and Sports about the trophy won in Sierra Leone and that their next mission is to present the trophy to the Sports Ministry but they are still waiting to hear from officials of the ministry after serving communication to the Sports Ministry.
“As you are aware, this is the first time a team from the LNHA has won a trophy from an international game. This trophy is a major success for us and we intend to make a major presentation to the Minister of Youth and Sports and the arrangement is ongoing now for that presentation,” the Handball president said.
Meanwhile, Kollie acknowledged that 216 handballs are on the way to the LNHA from the International Handball Federation (IHA) as a development aids to member countries of the federation and said they will be use for the intended purpose as a way of improve teams training in the country.
The sponsor and owner of Planet 44 female team, Mrs. Maima Massaquoi, appreciated her players for the trophy they won against their opponents.
According to her, their performance out of Liberia showed how focus, serious and prepare they are for other international tournaments.
Mrs. Maima Massaquoi also called on her players and coaches to now intensify their training as they continue their preparation for other local and international competitions because it was through the seriousness they put into their training that led to their results in Sierra Leone.