‘We Are 100% Ready’: Rivers Handball Team Vows to Strike Gold at Niger Delta Games

The Rivers State handball team has declared its determination to clinch the gold medal at the upcoming Niger Delta Games in Benin City, sending a strong warning to their regional rivals.

Speaking after the conclusion of the handball trials for Edo 2026 at the Diete-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the players were united in their resolve to deliver a better performance than last year’s inaugural edition in Uyo, where they fell short of expectations.

This time, they insist that experience and preparation will make the difference.

Goalkeeper Richard Harrison led the charge, expressing confidence in the team’s readiness.

‘We are very very prepared. For me, I will say it’s a 100% for us. We have been training basically, morning and evening, so the preparation is there, just to put in the team work and I think we can go for Gold,’ he said.

His teammate ThankGod David echoed the sentiment, stressing that the hard work put into training will pay off when the competition begins on February 20.

‘We are very confident in our abilities as we have put in enough efforts in our trainings. So we believe that as we are heading for the competition, we, as a team are emerging victorious,’ David declared.

For Godspower Idango, last year’s disappointment has fueled a renewed hunger.

‘We are looking forward to this year’s Games. We didn’t do well last year so my teammates and I are hungry and angry so much that we are putting in much work both in the morning and evening. So, I want to assure you that we will come out victorious in Edo state,’ he said.

The women’s team is equally determined, with Lily Emmanuel speaking passionately about their preparations.

‘I wasn’t actually proud of the experience last year but this year, we are going prepared. We are going to win, we are not coming to dull or fail. We are Team Rivers and we are going to make Rivers state proud.

‘We’ve been training from like the beginning of January intensively with consistency. We’ve been able to do endurance trainings that has given us greater strength so, the result will be different this time,’ she explained.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State trials for the Edo 2026 Niger Delta Games continued on Wednesday, with volleyball and taekwondo taking centre stage.