Basketball

Igoche Mark Hails Organisers Of Felix Kimto Memorial Basketball Tournament

Published

5 years ago

November 8, 2021

Joel Ajayi

The Proprietor of Mark Mentors Basketball Club,Igoche Mark has hailed organisers of the Felix Kimto Memorial Basketball Championship held over the weekend in Abuja.

Mark,spoke to Sports Journalists at the finials of the championship on Sunday,noted that the idea to honour one of Nigeria’s most dedicated Basketball player was a welcome development.

“Felix Kimto was a great basketball player who once played for my club.Unfortunately,he was murdered last year in front of the national stadium in Abuja; and that is why this memorial championship was put together to honour him.The massive turn out shows that players have been starved of basketball for a long time.”

Others who commended the organisers are;Coach Scott Nnaji(newly electedTechnical/Coaches Rep in NBBF board),Ubom Udoh,Kingsley Agbonaga(Peekay) and Ebango Joeseph.

The 3 days memorial Championship saw Hardrockers defeating Defenders by 63-54 to win the Felix Kimto memorial Basketball Championship,while Nile Spartan defeated Apo Settlers by 75-66 to win the third place game.

12 Basketball teams participated in the championship to honour the late Felix Kimto who was murdered on Nov.4,2020 in front of MKO Abiola Stadium,Abuja.

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Basketball

Fresh Ideas, Science Needed to Revitalise Basketball —ABA

Published

5 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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