Handball Federation of Nigeria Mourns Former National Coach Patrick Anthony Atusu
The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) is in mourning following the death of one of its most distinguished coaches, Patrick Anthony Atusu, whose passing has left a profound void in the Nigerian handball community.
Coach Atusu, a revered figure in Nigerian handball, was the man behind the historic journey of the national women’s handball team to the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, which is the first and only time Nigeria has qualified for handball at the Olympics.
Until his retirement, Coach Atusu was the Director of Sports Development in Sokoto State and also led Rima Strikers of Sokoto, where he groomed numerous handball talents. His coaching era produced generations of stars, many of whom gathered at the Sokoto Central Cemetery on Friday to pay their final respects to the man they called mentor, hero, and legend.
In a statement, the President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria, Mr. Samuel Ocheho, expressed deep sorrow at the news of Coach Atusu’s passing.
Ocheho said Coach Atusu served with exceptional dedication as head coach of both the national male and female handball teams for over two decades, leaving an indelible mark on the sport while commiserating with the family of the deceased.
“The death of Coach Patrick Anthony Atusu is a huge loss not just to the Handball Federation of Nigeria but to the entire Nigerian sports fraternity. He was a pillar of excellence and an architect of greatness in our game. On behalf of the Federation, I commiserate with his family and the entire Nigerian handball family. His legacy will live on through the many lives he touched and the foundations he laid,” Ocheho said.
Ocheho also said Coach Atusu’s contributions to Nigerian handball will never be forgotten as he was more than a coach and a builder of people and dreams.
Tributes have also poured in from across the country, with former players and protégés describing him as a “mentor,” “father figure,” “trainer,” and “a man of wisdom.”
