Basketball

Mark D Ball Basketball Championship Shifted To January 15

Published

5 years ago

December 30, 2021

By Joel Ajayi

The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the Mark D Ball Basketball Championship has postponed the dunk-off date of the competition by one week.

The women’s tournament which was supposed to commence in the first week of January at the Indoor Sports Hall of Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja has been shifted by a week (from January 15 up till 22) to enable them to put in place a formidable tournament.

The Men’s championship however would commence on January 22 and run for three months. The postponement by the LOC was reached following requests from some of the participating teams who pleaded for more time.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Secretary Local Organizing Committee, Umar Abdullahi which reads in part; “The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Mark D Ball Basketball Championship, wishes to announce a slight postponement of Mark D Ball Basketball Championship by a week.

“This development was taken by the LOC, due to requests from some of the participating teams, who pleaded for time.

“Consequently, the Women Championship originally slated to commence on January 8, 2022, will now dunk off on January 15 and end on January 22; while the Men’s Championship will commence on January 22 and run for 3 Months.

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Basketball

Fresh Ideas, Science Needed to Revitalise Basketball —ABA

Published

7 days ago

September 27, 2026

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

President/Founder, Amateur Basketball Academies, ABA, Aliyu Lucky Abubakar has called for a scientific and pragmatic approach to rediscovering the game of basketball in the North East.

The former player of many teams in Nigeria stated this on Saturday during training of coaches in Yola, Adamawa State.

Aliyu said the training is aimed to arm Coaches so they can, in turn, reach the children, especially those that ABA may not. The Deputy Comptroller in Nigeria Customs Service decried non-challant attitudes of the stakeholders in the development of basketball in the North East.

” Basketball is fading in the North East, and we at ABA will not allow it to die.”

“Adamawa was once a force in the game of basketball but had fallen behind. Our plan is to discover talent through coaching training, nurture it, and carry it from state level to the national team, and eventually, the global stage.” The basketball administrator said.

In his keynote message to the participants, which centered on the theme, “HOPE,” Harnessing opportunity, Organising for excellence, Promoting players’ development, and Empowering the next generation, Aliyu said, is far more than a drill instructors.

” Every child you see on a basketball court has a dream, and it is our job as a coach to spot it early and give it somewhere to go.” He concluded.

In his lecture titled, ” Who is a Coach”, Emmanuel Odah, the head Coach, FCT Basketball and former National Juniors team, described a coach as a committed, organised, affectionate, caring and humble.

” Commitment is consistency, and consistency is mother of progress; humility comes first because a coach who can not control himself can never control a game,” Odah insisted.

Other instructors at the training include ABA head of technical, Coach Adeka Daudu, as well as Coach Alexander Anyebe Ujoh, who spoke about the relationship between a coach and child in his care.

Coaches at the training commended ABA for its boldness to give hopes to basketball coaches all over the country. They promised that lessons learned would reshape and reset their mind on the job. They said the training will help them in understanding their role not only as an instructor but also grooming the children for a better future.

Among guests at the event include FCT Acting Director of Sports, Mr. Iyiola Ogundele and Bayelsa Veteran Basketball administrator, Coach Tony

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