The Head coach of the Police Machine Handball team, Michael Adegbulu, has said that the team’s 25-24 upset win over Tojemarine Academy of Lagos 25-24 had helped them to escape relegation from the Premier league.
Ahead of the match, the police machine had won two and lost seven of their matches to garner 13 points, while Tojemarine Academy lost four and won five and were ahead of their opponents with 19 points.
Adegbulu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Monday, that the team recorded only their third win at the ongoing 2021 Prudent Energy Handball Premier League, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
He said: ”Tojemarine Academy was about to steal the show, but the instructions I gave to my players in the last 15 minutes to the end of the game changed the story.
“I will continue to gather more points, praising their excellent performance after they defeated Tojemarine Academy 25-24. Finally, our team are out of the relegation zone. I am really happy and everything I say I put God first.
“I knew that my team will never go on relegation because with God all things are possible. I am above the relegation zone. Am very happy,” he said.
Adegbulu said that he was Tojemarine Academy coach in 2020 and was, therefore, conversant with the skills of each of the players.
He said he knew their capabilities and so he used that to tackle them at their game, adding that the two teams had earlier met twice in the division one league, in Edo state, before both of them were promoted to the premier league.
“Tojemarine Academy beat my team twice in that division one and I vowed that whenever we faced each other again, my team must win and we did.
“Our players are here in good spirit and they have performed very well, they did their best and their fans appreciated them for their wonderful performance so far.
“It’s not over yet but we have one more important match, we want to play them with determination. My last match is against plateau Vipers on Tuesday, I am optimistic I will win,” he said.
In another encounter also decided on Monday, Kano pillars beat Plateau Vipers 24-20.
On Tuesday, the Police machine will face Plateau Vipers, while Tojemarine Academy will meet D: Defenders.
NAN reports that a total of 21 teams, comprising 10 female and 11 male teams, are participating in the premier league, which will end on Nov. 3 (NAN)
