Basketball
Terfa Akpoyibo hail Sam Oguche/Bullet Energy Drink Invitational Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The Project Manager of Power Forward Mr Terfa Akpoyibo, has commended Sam Oguche for his constant effort towards basketball development in Nigeria.
Akpoyibo made the remarks while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the 2023 Sam Oguche/Bullet Energy Drink Invitational Tournament’s final at the Mo Arena in Abuja on Friday.
Akpoyibo noted that the quality of the tournament was top-notch, adding that grassroots basketball was taking shape and developing in the FCT.
The five-day tournament which dunked off on Monday ended on Friday with Gboko City Chiefs defeating Mak Town Flyers basketball club 90-77 in the final to emerge champions.
Gboko City Chiefs smiled to the bank with an N1 million prize money, while Mark Town basketball club settled for the N500,000 runners-up reward.
“The matches were tightly contested and it was a very competitive final game at the end between the two teams.
“What I am really excited about is the number of energetic young people having a platform and opportunity to express themselves.
“If these young people are not on the court, where would they have been?
“Some of them would have been out there engaging in negative vices as the saying goes, ‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop’.
“So, I am happy because grassroots basketball is taking shape and when you see people train at the grassroots and then they have the opportunity to play professional and more competitive games, it means that the game of basketball is developing,” he said.
The Sports administrator stressed that the tournament was a huge opportunity and a very successful event.
NAN
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
