Basketball: Stakeholders charged to revive Community Sporting Activities
By Teddy Daniel
Sports enthusiast,able bodies and companies in Kaduna state have been called upon to join hands in the development of Basketball and relevant sporting activities in the state.
The Convener of Kada City Basketball League Mr Sufyan Hassan made the call during the All-Star games award celebration held at Murtula square Kaduna.
Mr Sufyan Hassan explained that when the relevant stakeholders contribute their quota,it will help address the issues of drug abuse, thievery and negative vices among the youths in the society.
‘since we started this league in the past 12 weeks, the youths , teenagers and coaches are excited and always looking forward to something they were going to do.
‘those that were not training before started going back to training so that they can come play during the weekend.
We played 20 games every weekend from Friday to Sunday, with an average crowd of 150 youths, veterans and basketball enthusiasts’,he stated
He lamented the decline of sporting activities in the state over the years due to insecurity challenges, reiterating that Kaduna used to be the home of basketball and different kind of sports.
‘With the level of talents I am seeing here ,the state has no need to look elsewhere for each category of tournaments of basketball.
‘What Kada City Game will be doing, will be to have University games within and possibly outside the state,so as talented players in the schools will be active in the sporting game while pursuing their different academic degrees’,he explained
The Convener said the first edition of the tournament had 20 participating teams ,14 male teams and 6 female teams with over 330 participating players, coaches and officials cutting across all the local government areas of the State.
Mr Sufyan Hassan appealed to the state Government to provide university scholarship to the best performing participants during the All-star Games where best players in each of the team where selected to play.
In his remark, Kaduna State Commissioner for Sports Development professor Benjamin Kumai-Gugong promised to work hand in hand with those that are passionate to revive and sustain basketball game in the state.
Professor Benjamin Kumai said the state ministry of sport will come up with measures to help keep Kaduna basketball players in Kaduna to play for Kaduna.
‘Is not always fun to train players and then have them go play against you in competition due to lack of motivation and support from the state’,he said
He applauded Kada City Basketball League for leading the road and assuring that the ministry will follow suit to strengthen the game.
The All stars games had
- Coaches & officials (KCBL TEAM) v Invited Senior players (from around Kaduna).
- Junior All stars (selection of the best upcoming young players between the ages of 8-13 from around Kaduna).
- Female All stars ( Best 14 players from amongst the just concluded KCBL league).
- Male All stars ( Best 20 players from amongst the just concluded KCBL league).
