Basketball in Africa

(by Olusegun Ikuesan)
History was made on Saturday when the basketball court in the newly renovated Campos Square mini stadium hosted the first edition of Eko-Akete 6-A-Side Basketball Jamz.

The court came alive with top players from the league and some young players battle for the top prize of N100, 000.

At the end of the one-day tournament, it was Stallion Blazers that won the top prize after beating Favored Men by 12-11 points in the keenly contested match. Homes United beat Assurances Babes 33-20 points for the third position and the sum of N50, 000.

Dignitaries who graced the event were Lagos State Commissioner for Sports, Prince Ademola Adeniji Adele, Lagos State Sports Councils board member, Tayo Popoola, Peter Nelson, the Coordinator for the South West Zone of the National Sports Commission, NSC as well as other personalities in Nigerian sports.

Speaking at the event, Honourable Kunle Kadiri, Supervisor for Health, who represented the Chairman of Lagos Island Local government, Honourable Wasiu Eshinlokun expressed happiness over the turnout and the standard display by players in the tournament.

He stated that the local government is committed to giving hope to the youths by creating avenue where they can excel in their choosing career.

In his own remark, Honourable Kamai Salau-Bashua, Secretary of Lagos Island East Local Development Area, who represented the chairman of the council, Honourable Mufutau Kadiku said that with what he saw at the one-day event, there is a bright future for the talented youths of the state. He noted that all they need is support and encouragement. He, however, promised that the tournament will be an annual event.

Tayo Popoola praised the organizers for putting together a good tournament that will be a platform to discover talents that will not only be useful to the state but the country.

She charged the organisers not to rest on their oars but take such grassroots development programme to other parts of the state so that more hidden talents can be identified and groom for the state.

She called on other local governments in the state to emulate the Lagos Island and Lagos Island East councils by sponsoring tourneys for the betterment of the state and the youths.