By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

THE Handball Association of Zambia (HAZ) has inked a four-year deal with the International Handball Federation (IHF) that will see  construction of the first ever pitch handball court in Zambia.
During the 2015 Ordinary and Extraordinary IHF Congress 2015, hosted by the Handball Federation of Russia in Sochi, the congress decided that at the 2017 Junior Olympic Games, handball will be competed on the pitch  handball court.
HAZ president Victor Banda, who attended the AGM in Sochi held from November 6 to 9, said in an interview yesterday that, the association would engage the Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) to ascertain the location of the  pitch handball court.
“We have signed a memorandum of understanding with the IHF for the construction of the pitch handball court in Zambia in accordance with the changes that were made during the AGM in Sochi and were adopted by all affiliates,” Banda said.
Banda said construction of the court will be fully funded by the IHF and works will commence as soon as land is identified. He said HAZ has signed a school project deal aimed at introducing the sport in all the schools across the country.
He said the deal that will run for a period of four years, will see the IHF sending experts to Zambia, beginning next year, to train teachers on the technical aspects and management of handball in schools.
Banda said HAZ is happy with the developments as the move will see the standards of the sport improve.
“The IHF will be sending handball experts to train our teachers and this deal will be implemented in partnership with the Ministry of General Education. About 60 teachers will have to undergo training in the first phase of the project that should commence as soon as the ministry advises on the dates when teachers can be released,” he said.