Sports
LSBBA Wants Corporate World In Grassroots Sports Dev
The Chairperson, Lagos State Basketball Association (LSBBA), Barbara Harper, yesterday called on the corporate world to key into the development of youths by sponsoring grassroots’ events.
Harper told newsmen that the associations had big plans to engage youths by organising several back to back events, but that paucity of funds might hinder them.
She said: “We need the corporate world to key into our events and sponsor our programmes, outlined for the year as it concerns the development of our youths.
“Already, in the space of two months, we have organised the youth Basketball League which ended on a very high note.
“Now we are back with the Eko Basketball League which is the rebranded Lagos City Basketball League to dunk off June 23 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
“With the support of the corporate world and many well-wishers of the sport, we can do so much and achieve a lot.’’
The chairperson said that with a viable competition, youths would have chance to showcase their God- given potential.
“We are grooming quality players that can fit into the senior/junior national levels, the national sports festival and most importantly, be able to get the attention of international scouts.
“With a viable competition, the young players would be able to showcase their qualities and get noticed.
“We have approached Lagos State Sports Council for support, but they have urged us to seek support from the corporate world because of paucity of funds.
“This is why we look up to the corporate/private, parents, well-wishers to come to our aid and throw their weight on our programmes.’’
Tidesports source reports that the Eko Basketball League which will dunk off on June 23 comprises eight elite teams competing for the boys’ category.
The teams include Hoops and Read, Nigeria Customs, Raptors, Police Batons, Dodan Warriors, NAF Rockets, Flames and VGC.
“In the girls’ category, we have First Deep Water, First Bank, Dolphins, MFM, IGP Queens and Raptors constituting the six teams registered for the event.”
Tidesports source gathered that there will also be an introduction of the Eko Youth League for the U-13 and the U-16 categories for the junior teams.
This is expected to run for three months for all the registered academies in Lagos State.
A well-known football pundit in the State, Chief Christopher Okonkwo has lauded the efforts and vision of the Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle for going from one venue of the Nigeria Domestic Nigeria Professional Football League match to the other in monitoring Nigerian players, with a view to invite some exceptional good one discovered into the main stream of the Super Eagles team.
Okonkwo, who made the commendation in an interview at the Port Harcourt Club recently, described the positive move by Coach Chelle as a good step in the right direction, noting that the practice was how its been done in the past among any contracted coach assigned to tinker the Super Eagles team.
“Truly, it has been an old tradition in the country seeing any newly engaged Coach to lead the National team, visiting some our Nigeria League venues during the league matches to spot light some good talents that could be used to beef up some grey areas in the department of Eagles team”
He, however, frowned at the current situation where our coaches had continously been over depending on the use of foreign based players during invitation of players to the National camp, thereby, relegating the domestic home based league players to the background as if they have nothing much to offer to the team.
“I can vividly recall that the likes of great players in the mode of Finidi George, Taribo West, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Richard Owobokiri, Emmanuel Osuigwe among others started from Nigeria football league before they graduated to play in Europe through which they later invited to Super Eagles camp to represent Nigeria”
“Besides, I’m also of the view that going to secondary school football competitive games could equally serves as a a good platform to discover budding talents that could be nurtured to become great stars in near future”, Okonkwo frankly added.
Okonkwo, therefore, prayed that any football coach to be engaged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to tinker the Super Eagles should be told not to confine himself in staying in big hotel alone but to be visiting some of our local league match venues, with a view to discover some good players that can be drafted into the Super Eagles team.
“Indeed, I stand to be challenged that there some young good players in the Nigeria Professional League. If spotted and exposed, could give the some of the invited foreign based players a stiff competitive fight in securing a postion in the team”, Okonkwo emphatically stated.
Ezechukwu, one of the youngest members of the Nigerian contingent at the championship in Ghana, said her ambition was to win the 100m title in style and cap it with a new personal record.
The fresh secondary school graduate explained that she is fully focused on contributing to Team Nigeria’s medal hopes and is determined to deliver strong performances across her events.
“My main objective in Ghana is to clinch the 100m title and the 4×100m,” Ezechukwu told Tidesports source.
“Nigeria can be assured of my very best and my commitment to the Team. I would love to set a new personal best in Ghana, but anything that comes, I will take it. The spirit in the team is high, and I think we are ready to go,” she said.
Ezechukwu, who was part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay squad at the World Relays in Botswana, said the experience gained from that competition has strengthened her mindset heading into the continental championships.
She admitted that she learned valuable lessons from her previous outing, including a difficult moment during the relay where an early error affected the team’s rhythm, but said she has used the experience to improve her discipline and composure.
“The secret is just being disciplined, training hard and trusting my coach and believing in God, and the result will show,” she added.
The teenager is part of a 41-member Nigerian team comprising 24 female and 17 male athletes competing at the championships, which begin today at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Nigeria are expected to compete across multiple track and field events as they aim for a strong finish against the continent’s elite athletes.
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