18 October 2006
NIGERIA : Radar Hoop Donates Cash, Basketballs to Orphanage
The organisers of the Nigerian Top 50 Basketball Camp took time off the drills on the courts for an emotional contact with the less privilege of the society yesterday with a visit to the Little Saints Orphanage located at the Palm Grove Estate, Lagos. The Radar Hoop team led by Masai Ujiri were at the Strong Tower Mission House to lend a helping hand to the home that has catered for abandoned children and the aged in the society over the years.
Masai, a former Nigerian international but now the Director of International Scouting at Denver Nuggets, said the motive was to give back to Nigerian kids and help develop them to a greater future.
"And it is in that spirit that we are identifying with the kids here. We believe that we can also touch the lives of these kids here to add some value to their lives. We can never tell there could be some great basketballers of the future.
"We therefore give these token and hope that the relationship will remain and expand," Masai said.
Radar Hoop thereafter made a donation of N100, 000 to the home. There was also additional gift of basketballs and nets. An understanding was reached that the next visit could take the team to the other homes of Strong Tower for the grown up boys and girls located at Akowonjo and Ogudu areas of Lagos respectively. It was also agreed in principle that Radar Hoop would assist with the repairs of the basketball court at one of the centres.Reverend Mrs. Dele George, the director of the centre who received the group, thanked the team for selecting the home for the reach out despite other such homes that exist in Lagos.
"We are very grateful and do hope that the relationship would get warmer. We were the first to be registered by the Lagos State Government and we have raised at least 600 children over time. By the grace of God we hope to expand to places like Abuja and Benin City in future," she said.
The team returned to the National Stadium where the basketball drills continued with the 50 young players. The camp, which began on Sunday, has three foreigners amongst them. There are two Cameroonians and a Senegalese in attendance. The event, the second this year, has coaches from the United States and Nigerian running it. The Top 50 Camp rounds of today at 1.00pm.
Masai, a former Nigerian international but now the Director of International Scouting at Denver Nuggets, said the motive was to give back to Nigerian kids and help develop them to a greater future.
"And it is in that spirit that we are identifying with the kids here. We believe that we can also touch the lives of these kids here to add some value to their lives. We can never tell there could be some great basketballers of the future.
"We therefore give these token and hope that the relationship will remain and expand," Masai said.
Radar Hoop thereafter made a donation of N100, 000 to the home. There was also additional gift of basketballs and nets. An understanding was reached that the next visit could take the team to the other homes of Strong Tower for the grown up boys and girls located at Akowonjo and Ogudu areas of Lagos respectively. It was also agreed in principle that Radar Hoop would assist with the repairs of the basketball court at one of the centres.Reverend Mrs. Dele George, the director of the centre who received the group, thanked the team for selecting the home for the reach out despite other such homes that exist in Lagos.
"We are very grateful and do hope that the relationship would get warmer. We were the first to be registered by the Lagos State Government and we have raised at least 600 children over time. By the grace of God we hope to expand to places like Abuja and Benin City in future," she said.
The team returned to the National Stadium where the basketball drills continued with the 50 young players. The camp, which began on Sunday, has three foreigners amongst them. There are two Cameroonians and a Senegalese in attendance. The event, the second this year, has coaches from the United States and Nigerian running it. The Top 50 Camp rounds of today at 1.00pm.
# posted by afrbk : 09:48
