Izuchukwu OkosiDefending champion Kano Pillars began the defense of their title with a well deserved victory as they defeated Rima Strikers on day 1 of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2023 phase 1 in Benin City, Edo State.
According to the report made available to the media through the HFN Media Assistant, Cosmos Chukwuemeka Akisi, the Solomon Yola tutored team were made to work hard but eventually earned a comfortable 30-23 victory over Rima Strikers.
In other matches in men category, former champion Niger United had to dig deep before defeating Confluence Stars 28-23 while Tojemarine came out on top in the battle of Lagos as they defeated Seasider Boys of Lagos 29-23.
Home team Bendel Dynamos defeated Police Machine 24-23 while former champion Safety Shooters easily defeated Benue Buffaloes 38-20
In the women category, newly promoted Delta Force showed tenacity as they shockingly defeated old war horse Imo Grasshoppers 25-20 while Seasider Babes of Lagos couldn’t matchup as they lost 29-25 to an enterprising Defender Babes.
Rima Queens served a sour welcome back package to Bayelsa United with a comfortable 32-24 victory while a last ditch goal gave Plateau Peacocks a 23-22 victory over Bendel Dynamos who had home support.
Defending champion Safety Babes made mince meat of Benue Queens with an emphatic 42-24 victory to begin their title defence.
Ardova Handball Premier League 2023 Phase 1 Day 1 Results
Women Category
1. Delta Force 25-20 Imo Grasshoppers
2. Lagos Seasiders Babes 25- 29 De Defenders Babes
3. Rima Queens 32-24 Bayelsa Queens
4. Plateau Peacocks 23-22 Bendel Dynamos
5. Safety Babes 42-24 Benue Queens
Men Category
1. Pillars 30-23 Rima Strikers
2. Niger United 28-23 Confluence Stars
3.Tojemarine Academy 29-23 Seasiders Kings
4. Bendel Dynamos 24-23 Police Machine
5. Safety Shooters 38 – 20 Benue Buffaloes
6. De Defenders 31-27 Correction Boys
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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