Basketball
ABA League: 40 Clubs Roar into Action as Maiden Edition Tips Off in Abuja
By Joel Ajayi
Forty clubs have thrown their hats into the ring as the maiden Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA) League tipped off in grand style in Abuja on Saturday, with more than 500 young players set to battle for honours in a competition aimed at providing a new pathway for grassroots basketball development in Nigeria.
The opening day lived up to expectations, with the young players displaying skill, energy, determination and competitive spirit as coaches, scouts, officials and basketball enthusiasts gathered to witness the commencement of the ambitious grassroots league.
One of the standout opening-day encounters saw TNT Basketball Academy of Abuja face Suleja Bulldogs in a closely fought contest. After an intense battle, Suleja Bulldogs emerged 24-22 winners in a game that provided an early glimpse of the quality of talent on parade.
The narrow scoreline reflected the competitive nature of the encounter, with both teams producing impressive moments as the players battled for every point.
The maiden ABA League features 20 boys’ teams and 20 girls’ teams drawn from across the Federal Capital Territory and the North-Central region. More than 180 games are scheduled to be played during the competition at different basketball venues in Abuja.
Among the venues are the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Basketball Courts, Package B, Abuja, and the Mo Arena Basketball Courts in Zone 5.
For the organisers, however, the tournament goes beyond competition and winning trophies. It is designed as a pilot grassroots development project aimed at discovering talented young players, providing them with regular competitive exposure and creating a pathway to professional basketball.
Speaking after the opening games, Founder and President of the Amateur Basketball Academies, Prof. DC Lucky Abubakar, described the commencement of the league as a significant step towards changing the fortunes of Nigerian basketball.
Abubakar said the large number of young players participating in the competition demonstrated the depth of talent available at the grassroots, adding that the right structure and sustained development could produce players capable of competing at the highest level.
“We are experiencing a revolution in basketball, which I promised a long time ago. Today is a glorious day for basketball,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the competition would attract the attention of scouts and provide some of the players with opportunities to pursue professional careers in Nigeria, Europe and the United States.
He urged the participants to remain disciplined, focused and committed to improving their skills, stressing that talent must be matched with hard work and the right attitude.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the FCT Basketball Caretaker Committee, His Royal Highness Eze Ifeanyi Eke, called for greater investment in grassroots basketball, saying Nigeria must rebuild the sport from its foundation.
Eke said competitions such as the ABA League were important because they give young players the opportunity to develop their abilities while pursuing their dreams.
“These kids deserve their dreams to actually come true. They have a dream, and the dream is to go higher. So, we have presented this very big platform for them,” he said.
He urged government, sports administrators, coaches, the private sector and other stakeholders to increase investment in grassroots sports and basketball.
“We need to invest in grassroots sports. We need to invest in grassroots basketball. We cannot allow our game to die while we sit and watch,” Eke said.
He described the ABA League as a pilot project that could eventually be expanded into a broader national grassroots basketball programme.
“This is just a pilot test for our future. We are going to do it nationally and widely very soon. We want to sit down, check where we made mistakes and improve on them,” he said.
Eke also appealed to the media to play a greater role in promoting grassroots basketball by providing visibility for competitions and helping to draw attention to emerging talents.
“We want the press to help us. Let us build it together and make sure that our basketball continues to grow,” he added.
With 40 clubs, more than 500 players and over 180 games on the programme, the maiden ABA League represents one of the latest efforts to strengthen grassroots basketball in Abuja and the North-Central region.
The organisers believe that sustained competition, talent identification and proper development can provide a stronger pipeline of players for professional clubs, domestic leagues and Nigeria’s national teams.
As the games continue, attention will now turn to the emerging stars and clubs seeking to make their mark in the inaugural competition, with the organisers hopeful that the league will become a lasting platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian basketball talents.
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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