Apart from efforts to host the National Sports Festival next month, Kaduna State has again been selected to present a team at the Commonwealth West African Men Handball Championship slated for Ahmadu Bello Stadium Gymnasium Hall, Kaduna.

The host state is expected to use the tournament to prepare its team for the forthcoming 16th National Sports Festival to be hosted in the state in November.

The tournament, in its maiden edition was to be contested among five West African countries namely; Gambia, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Ghana and host Nigeria. But having been given a wild card by the organisers, Kaduna State will be the sixth team expected at the championship.

Chairman, Publicity Sub- Committee of the Commonwealth West African Men Handball Championship Local Organising Committee (LOC) Barrister Femi Okeowo said all participants are expected in the country on Saturday October 4th, while the competition will commence Monday 6 to11 October 2008.

According to him, "Kaduna State is proud to host the maiden edition of the Commonwealth West African Men Handball Championship. There will be five Commonwealth West African countries to participate, and they are Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone".

"The State handball team is allowed to partake in the tournament, so that they would be exposed, and it would prepare them ahead of next month's National Sports Festival billed for the state.

Arrival date for the fiesta is Saturday October 4, while the official opening ceremony is slated for Monday evening at the indoor sports hall of Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna. Governor Mohammed Namadi Sambo of Kaduna State is expected to be the chief host, while Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu will be the special guest of honour at the championship."