HANDBALL fans, players and members of the local association were let down last Saturday at the Palais des Sports after they were asked by Palais des Sports staff to end their competition prematurely at 12 noon.

According to Mr Norbert Dogley, chairman of the Seychelles Handball Association (SHA), the competition, organised for all secondary schools on Mahe, was supposed to end at 12.30 p.m. and he can't understand why they were asked to leave the court.

"We are trying so hard to develop and promote handball here. It is difficult to understand that there are others who are not taking us seriously and are doing whatever they can to belittle us," he said.

At the time the incident happened, the girls' competition was over while the last boys' clash between Mont Fleuri and Anse Boileau had just started and the former were leading 5-1.

Chairman Dogley added that the SHA would take appropriate action regarding the incident so that it is not repeated again in future.

On the whole, Dogley said that he was very satisfied with the level of participation throughout the season and noted that the association was planning to organise more competitions starting as early as January next year.

"We are looking into the possibility of travelling to neighbouring countries next year to measure our strength with other teams in the region. We are to also send coaches from the association to teach the game in schools across the country," said Dogley, who added that they were to organise a handball coaching course for all Physical Education (P. E.) instructors next year.

Regarding the incident, Sports Nation later gathered from a member of the Palais des Sports management that the competition was scheduled from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and they had no choice but to ask the handball players to leave the court because they had to get the court ready for the volleyball matches which were to start at 1.30 p.m.

Below are the results of the competition.

Boys: 1st Mont Fleuri (6 points after two wins over Plaisance 9-6 and Anse Boileau 5-1), 2nd Plaisance (4 points after a win over Anse Boileau 12-9), 3rd Anse Boileau (2 points after two losses).

Girls: 1st Anse Royale (5 points after an 11-3 win over Plaisance and a 7-7 draw with Anse Boileau), 2nd Plaisance (4 points after a 4-3 win over Anse Boileau and a 3-11 loss to Anse Royale), 3rd Anse Boileau (3 points after a 7-7 draw with Anse Royale and a 3-4 defeat against Plaisance).