Basketball
Mark ‘D’ Ball Basketball Championship: Mo’ Heat edge Gombe Bulls
Mo’ Heat Basketball Club on Monday edged Gombe Bulls 73-70 to make it two straight wins in a row at the ongoing Mark ‘D’ Ball Basketball Championship in Abuja.
The three-month long championship which began on Sunday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium is expected to end in April.
Mo’ Heat had earlier defeated Hot Coal 74 – 55 in their opening game.
Mohammed Shehu, the Proprietor of Mo’ Heat Basketball Club told Journalists that it was a very tough but sweet victory, adding that his goal was to develop the game at the grassroots.
“I had a feeling that we were going to win the game. It’s very interesting and it shows that all the hardwork we have put into the game is beginning to pay off.
“Our basic target is to develop the game at the grassroots in the country.
“We are in the business of searching for young talents and developing them to become the stars of tomorrow and that’s what we’ve been doing all this while,” he said.
Shehu added that the team’s next target was to ensure participation in the Nigeria Basketball Premier League, adding that the league was the real test for the players.
“Our dream is to join the Nigeria Basketball Premier League as soon as the ongoing Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) crisis is resolved so as to improve the skills of these developed talents through the league.
“The Mark ‘D’ Ball Men’s Basketball Championship in itself is a private and a very good initiative by the new NBBF President, Mark Igoche.
“However, there is a need for these players to participate in the real and highest ranked league in the country, which is the Nigeria Basketball Premier League.
“This is where the players can really be tested so as to ascertain their level of fitness and compatibility as well as the quality of our investment,” he said.
The Mo’ Heat boss decried the poor state of basketball in the last four years in the country, especially on the domestic scene.
He however said he was confident that the league would be resuscitatated as soon as possible with the emergence of Igoche as the new NBBF President.
“We have a new president now and I know him very well.
“He is going to swing into action and ensure that the league is resuscitatated.”
Results of other matches played on Monday at the championship show Apa Flames losing 65-93 to Hot Coal Ballers.
Safety Knights beat Ahip Giants 81-74 and Nile University Spartans defeated Police Baton 68-64.
Tuesday’s games will see Ahip Giants take on Police Baton, while Mo’ Heat face Safety Knights.
Hot Coal Ballers will battle against Gombe Bulls, while Nile University Spartans lock horns with Apa Flames.
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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