Basketball
CDS Highlights Youth Benefits of U-18 Democracy Day Basketball Championship
By Joel Ajayi
The second edition of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Democracy Day Basketball Championship officially tipped off at the Indoor Sports Hall, Package B, of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, with a vibrant and colourful opening ceremony.
The event brought together all 16 participating teams in a lively parade before the organisers, marking the commencement of the annual youth basketball tournament.
In his opening remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (OFR), emphasized that the primary objective of the championship is to strengthen civil-military relations and foster national unity.
He noted that the tournament, themed “Encouraging Grassroots Basketball Talents”, reflects the Armed Forces’ commitment to discovering and nurturing young talents across the country.
“This championship is aimed at building the capacity of our youths to contribute meaningfully to national development,” General Musa stated. “Our goal is to strengthen civil-military cooperation by positively engaging young people through healthy competition, while promoting mutual respect and understanding.”
The CDS added that beyond talent discovery, the championship is designed to promote national cohesion and unity through sports.
“This initiative serves as a platform to strengthen the bonds between the military and civilians. It also provides a non-kinetic approach to addressing future security challenges through the cooperation of good and patriotic citizens,” he explained.
General Musa further highlighted that the tournament fosters togetherness in the spirit of sportsmanship and offers the youths a legitimate means of livelihood.
“In preparation for this event, we have assembled an impressive lineup of talented players, coaches, and officials. The championship features 16 well-selected male and female teams from the North West geopolitical zone and the Federal Capital Territory,” he added.
The 2025 Democracy Day Basketball Championship commenced on Saturday, June 14, and is scheduled to run through Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
Basketball
Fresh Ideas, Science Needed to Revitalise Basketball —ABA
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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