Basketball
Team Plateau Crowned Champions of CDS U-18 Basketball Championship in Abuja
…As FCT Defeats Kaduna 70–53 to Clinch Bronze
By Joel Ajayi
Team Plateau on Wednesday emerged champions of the second edition of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Democracy Day U-18 Basketball Championship after defeating M2 Academy 50-36 in a fiercely contested final.
The championship game, played at the indoor basketball court of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, was a thrilling display of grassroots basketball talent. Both Plateau and M2 Academy entered the final unbeaten, setting the stage for one of the tournament’s most intense matchups.
The Plateau boys started strong, edging the first quarter 8–6. They built on that momentum in the second quarter, extending their lead to 27–20 by capitalizing on defensive lapses from M2 Academy.
Although M2 Academy responded with a stronger third quarter, Plateau managed to maintain their advantage, finishing the quarter 36–32. The final quarter was all Plateau, as they pulled away to seal the victory with a final score of 50–36.
Earlier in the third-place match, also held at the indoor basketball court (Package B) of the stadium, the FCT U-18 boys’ team defeated their Kaduna counterparts 70–53 in a dominant performance.
The FCT side controlled all four quarters with superior teamwork, accurate shooting, and solid defensive play to secure the bronze medal.
The five-day tournament, themed “Encouraging Grassroots Basketball Talents”, aimed to identify, nurture, and promote young basketball talents capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.
A total of 16 teams—10 male and 6 female—participated in the championship, which tipped off on Saturday, June 14, and concluded on 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
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured6 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
