Chairman, Plateau Basketball
Association (PBA), Mr Sam Damla, has said that the state bred quality basketball players but lacked the resources to retain them.
Damla made the assertion when he spoke on the development of the game and players in the state in an interview with Tide Sports Correspondent last Sunday in Jos.
He said that Plateau had been a training ground for players who later leave to other states for better pay.
“Most of the players that are making waves in other clubs started from here and the reason cannot be farfetched; they are looking for greener pastures.
“This boils down to the issue of proper funding, they are looking for where they are well paid as professionals.
“They are not well paid here may be because of the lean resources of the government,’’ he said.
The association’s chairman called for private sponsorship of basketball by companies and privileged individuals as government alone could not handle sports sponsorship.
He said that basketball was the second most popular game after football in the state.
According to him, the game is bedevilled with a lot of challenges both technically and shortage of hard wares.
“Generally, there are a lot of problems associated with the sport, lack of private sponsorship and lack of commitment sometimes by the government,’’ he said.
Damla, however, said the state had made significant progress in the game by grooming quality players and winning laurels through its team, Plateau Peaks.
The chairman said that basketball was being developed at the grassroots, noting that there were basketball teams in almost all primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.
He urged basketball lovers in the state to always make out time to watch Plateau Peaks which plays in the highest level of basketball in the country.
He said that doing so would cheer the players and enable them to put in their best and win laurels at national competitions.