Youth Basketball Festival Holds In PH

The Athletes For Peace and Re-Orientation Initiative and DA-F Basketball Programme, in conjunction with Rivers State Basketball Association (RSBA), will today commence its one week Youth Basketball Festival tagged, “Future Of Nigeria Basketball”. 
Speaking in a press briefing the at weekend in the state Basketball Complex, Niger/Bende Streets in  Old Port Harcourt township, the DA-F programme coordinator, Coach Fubara Onyanabo, said the essence of the competition is to pip into the future of Nigeria Basketball. 
According to him, this programme is to know the level of development of  players after training and competing among themselves. 
“This festival will start on Monday (today) through Sunday. The programme is different from others because we are using it to know our level of development. 
If we train our kids everyday without competition, we will not know our level of development. Apart from that, this  time I have involved Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).This is because players discovered will be recommended to NBBF,” Onayanabo said. 
He further revealed that 36 teams are expected to participate in the Festival, saying that clubs are coming from Lagos, Imo, Benue States, etc. 
Coach Onyanabo equally said that teams coming outside the State will be camped and fed by the organisers. 
“This Youth Basketball Festival has categories, U-13 mixed boys/girls, U-16 boys, U- 18 girls and U-19 men. 
The best three teams will go home with medals, while outstanding players in each team will receive plaques,” he stated. 
He used the forum to commend the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike and Commissioner of Sports, Hon. Boma Iyaye for their support in sports development in the state.

By: Tonye Orabere