Back to back Prudent Energy Handball winner, Ada Okey of Safety Babes HC said handball provided an avenue for her to escape from her parents.
In an exclusive interview with www.aclsports.com, the former National U17 player said she ditched football for handball after getting zero encouragement from her parents.
Ada Okey said, “Handball for me was an escape route to football. I was actively into football during my secondary school days but my parents did not give me approval simply because I am a girl. During my secondary school days, handball was part of the sports in Abia State; I found joy in throwing balls.
“My coach was amazed at the distance of my throws and wanted me to join the Abia State Handball team but I explained to him that my parents won’t approve.
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“He took it upon himself to visit my parents and they granted him his request by releasing me; that was how I started going to the stadium after school hours and the result of that sacrifice has paid off today.”
The Safety Babes HC player said lifting the Prudent Energy Handball League on three occasions is a dream come true.
She said, “Lifting the Prudent Energy Handball League trophy last season (2022) was a dream come true. I remember Safety Babes tried lifting the title back to back after winning the 2019 edition but were stopped by Adorable Angels. In 2022, Safety Babes took it personally because we really want the world to know that we are the best in the country.”
The quick feet player revealed that ex-international, Emmanuel David aka Okocha is her mentor in the game of handball.
“My mentor is Emmanuel David, former Safety Shooters player and currently the head coach of Confluence Stars. I derive joy watching him play handball because he plays the game with ease. Whenever he plays, I walk up to him to ask questions about the technicalities of the game and he always gives me responses to my questions”, she added.
“The joy I get playing on the court is beyond me. My fans always push me to do more because when a match starts, hearing the crowd mention my name pushes me to give 100% to the team”.
