Defending champions Kano Pillars male handball team on Wednesday in Abuja continued with their unbeaten performance at the ongoing 2022 Prudent Energy Handball Premier League by beating Benue Buffaloes 37-24.

The league’s phase one played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Kano Pillars led 18-10 after the first half. Kano Pillars simply outclassed the newly-promoted Makurdi-based opponents with good ball-handling skills to see the game off with ease.

Speaking after the match, Solomon Yola, head coach of Kano Pillars, said, “My players performed according to instructions and we are not going to ever underrate any team. My team will continue working hard to gather points by ensuring that we fight hard to win our subsequent matches.”

He added, “We want to play the remaining eight matches with commitment, determination and focus.”

Yola added Benue Buffaloes were not an easy team to meet and play in this competition, adding that they were very good and their tactics were specially different.

“We congratulate them for putting up a very good fight. The newly-promoted male teams are just two —- Benue Buffaloes and Owena Kings —- and we have played against them and we give kudos to them,” he stated. “Both teams should keep it up and never relent in this competition. Every team in the league is a potential champion, so we have come highly prepared for both the younger and older teams.”

Kano Pillars have won their two matches so far in this competition, beating Police Machine 29-15 and Owena Kings 34-19.

Benue Buffaloes on their part beat Lagos Seasiders 29-22 and lost to Niger United 25-33.

On Thursday, Kano Pillars will face De:Defenders in their fourth match, while Benue Buffaloes will tackle Kada Stars.

Meanwhile, in another male competition fixture played on Wednesday, Niger United humiliated Confluence Stars 37-28 victory, while Rima strikers walked over Kada Stars.

In the female category on Wednesday, debutants Rima Queens drew their third match 37-37 against Imo Grasshoppers.

Safety Babes secured a 31-22 victory over De:Defenders Babes, while Seasiders Babes walked over Kada Queens.

Twenty-two teams, made up of 10 females and 12 males, are participating  in the league.

The male teams include Benue Buffaloes of Makurdi, 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’s female category has Adorable Angels of Ilorin, Benue Queens of Makurdi, Defender Babes of Abuja, Bendel Dynamos Rebranded of Benin City and Imo Grasshoppers of Owerri.

The rest are Kada Queens of Kaduna, Plateau Peacocks of Jos, Roma Queens of Sokoto, Safety Babes of Abuja and Seasiders Babes of Lagos.

The league, played at two venues in the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, began on Monday and is expected to end on June 2.

(NAN)