The new vista of positive development and growth in Nigerian Basketball accentuated by impressive recent results turned in by the national teams is beginning to rob off on the grassroots in the country.
This much has been demonstrated in Delta state where the Sports Commission chairman Tony Okowa has directed the drafting of two outstanding young players to the state basketball team after remarkable display at the just concluded G29 Basketball tournament in Warri.
Receiving trophies won by both the men and women’s teams of Delta state from the G29 basketball tournament, Okowa acknowledged the abundance of talents at the grassroots in the entire country which again came to the fore at the G29 Championship in Warri.
He noted that the much that is required is for government, the private sector and well meaning individuals to continue to support the youths with sport competitions and programmes that will give them a platform to showcase their God-given talents.
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“For us in Delta a lot of emphasis is placed in helping the youths actualize their dreams in sports.
” This is why the state will continue to recognise and encourage private initiatives like the G29 Basketball Tournament which will go a long way in getting youths positively engaged.
“The standard of the competition was amazingly high which is why we have identified two players of the state’s boys team representatives to be drafted to the main Delta state
team immediately”
Okowa who commended the organizers of the G29 Basketball tournament also hailed the impressive recent performances by Nigerian senior teams, the D’ Tigers and D’Tigress.
He however noted that more should be done at the grassroots level to expand the pool for talents hunt in future.
Despite some commendable achievements by Nigeria in international basketball in recent times, a major criticism has been hinged on the fact that players for both the D’Tigers and D’Tigress have been sourced abroad at the detriment of home grown talents in Nigeria.
