Players Hail Nestle Milo Basketball Tourney

Some players discovered at the annual Nestle Milo Basketball
Championships have hailed the sponsors for sustaining and developing the game
at the grassroots to empower youths.

Some of them, who spoke to newsmen at the final of the 14th
edition of the competition at the weekend in Lagos, said it had helped the
youth to develop their talents.

They said that some of the youths discovered from the
championships now play in big leagues around the world.

The youths cited Chukwudiebere Maduabum, who represented Air
Force Secondary School, Ikeja in 2007 and now plays for Denver Nuggets, Colorado
in the U.S.

Another is Benson Egemonye, who also represented St Thomas
Basic School, Benin in 2002 and is now playing for Heilongjiang Zhao Zhou Feng
Shen in China.

Muhammed Bukar, who played for Wahab Folawiyo School, Lagos
in 2002 and is now, playing for the Dodan Warriors Basketball Club of Lagos,
said that the competition had given the youths hope and employment.

He said that many of the players in both the female and male
national leagues were discovered from the championships.

“I am happy that Nestle Milo has been able to continue to
see that basketball was developed at the grassroots which is putting food on
some of our tables today,” Bukar said.

A female player, Nkechi Akashili, who represented Nana
College, Warri in 2003 and now plays for First Deepwater Basketball Club of
Lagos, said Nestle Milo made her what she is now.

Akashili, who also plays for the senior female national
team, D’ Tigress, said that if more companies could emulate the Nestle Nigeria
Plc, Nigeria would be one of the best basketball nations.

Jerry Edwin, who also played for Wahab Folawiyo in 2002 and
with Dodan Warriors of Lagos, pleaded with the company not to relent in their
quest to make life for youths meaningful.