Sports
Nalrish Basketball Classic Targets Youth Dev – Sponsor
The major sponsor of the just concluded Nalrish Basketball Classic (NBC) tournament, in Port Harcourt, Natasha Obeten, says championship was geared towards uplifting the youths in the society.
According to her, she decided to host the maiden edition of NBC in Port Harcourt because she started the game in Port Harcourt, adding that it is another way to give back to the society.
Obeten, who played for ASA Collage basketball team in United States, said this on Saturday in a Radio programme monitored by Tidesports in Port Harcourt.
“Port Harcourt is my home town and I grew up in Port Harcourt Township, that is where I started playing the game of basketball.
I want to give back to the society through basketball because I played basketball as well,” Obeten said.
She revealed that NBC championship will be extended to other West African countries as a way of giving back to the society.
“I made it classic this year because by next year, it is going to be bigger and better than this.
I will extend it to other West African countries and is going to be yearly,” she stated.
She further disclosed that the NBC championship is supported by the Rivers State Government, Senior Citizens, Youth Wisdom Development and the Nigeria Female Basketball Players organisation based in United States.
“I joined Rivers State basketball team in my earlier age but never made the team and later played for Nigeria Customs Female Basketball League.
I went to different basketball camp and one of the camps I got full scholarship to study in the United States, New York.
Right now, I am a member of Nigeria Female Basketball players in United States and also member of Senior Citizens and Youth Wisdom Development, so, I decided to merge them together to organise this tournament,” she explained.
By: Kiadum Edookor
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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