Mouludia Oudja Handball Club player, Gbenga Cole has attributed the numerous tournaments he attended in 2019 to the brain behind his success in Morocco.
The former Lagos Seasiders player told www.aclsports.com that he represented the country in 6 respective International Handball Federation (IHF) tournaments including the 2019 men’s junior world championship in Spain.
Cole revealed that he first broke into the senior national team as a very young player at the 2018 African Handball Cup in Gabon courtesy coach Mike Taangahar.
He said, “The past two years (2018 and 2019) have been eventful in my handball career. I attended the 2018 African Handball Cup in Gabon which was my first international outing in the senior team as a young player. The coach (Mike Taangahar) who gave me the opportunity to be at the Nations Cup in Gabon is the same man who is my coach at my present club in Morocco.
“The year 2019 afforded me the opportunity to play for the nation’s U20 National team; I had the opportunity to play against very experienced players in Africa as well as foreign players for the first time. The U20 team started from Niger Republic to Rwanda to Morocco to Kosovo to Georgina and finally to the U21 junior World Cup in Spain”.
“The tournament made me go round the world to gather experience, exposure to meeting of big players from PSG etc. I came back to Nigeria after these championships and this made me have a different perspective about the game of handball in the world; the tournaments helped me adapt easily at my new club”, Cole told www.aclsports.com
The former Safety Shooter player revealed that ex Kada Kings gaffer, Mike Taangahar changed the fortunes of Mouludia Oudja Handball Club.
”Mouludia Oudja Handball Club is moving forward with the tactical knowledge of the gaffer, Mike Taangahar who helped reposition the team after his arrival. He tried putting the team on the right track and we are currently sitting on 4th position on the log in the Morocco League.
“If not for the COVID-19 pandemic, we should have moved up the table to 2nd position and will be going for playoff. The team is pushing hard to win games, we are in form and will overtake other teams in the league”, Cole said.
The Right Wing player revealed to www.aclsports.com that the Morocco League tough and highly competitive.
Cole said, “The Morocco league is very competitive and tough. I came to North Africa to witness another style of the game. This is my first time playing for a club side outside Nigeria and I thank God for the opportunity to play here. Without experience, it will be difficult for any player to excel outside the shores of the country but I give glory to God and I believe this is a stepping stone”.
