Organisers Sure Of Unearthing Talents From Grassroots

Organisers of the first South-South Basketball 3X3 Tour, scheduled to dunk off on December 1 in Benin, the Edo State capital, have assured that the championship would be another opportunity to discover talents from the grassroots.

As part of preparations to ensure a successful basketball tournament, the secretariat of the event on Wednesday released the names of the six coordinators that would oversee the programme.

In a statement made available to The Guardian, the event will take off at the Ogbe Stadium, Benin with Coach Victor Umoru as coordinator; on the December 3, Asaba Stadium, Asaba, Delta State will be the next stop with Coaches Benson and Broderick Peter in charge.

On December 5, the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Cross River State will be bubbling with activities as players, who are already used to the 3X3 basketball will get themselves into action ahead of the Calabar carnival with Coach Festus Okolie taking charge of activities.

The next stop would be the Old Stadium, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State and Coaches Gift Anukam and Victor Udoh will preside over the affairs, while on December 9, the Samson Siasia Stadium, Bayelsa State will host the Tour in what promises to be exciting going by the turnout that was witnessed at the 3X3 championship held in the state by the former GOC 13 Brigade, Gen Shehu Yusuf, who is now Commandant, Command and Staff College, Jaji. Activities in the zone will be coordinated by Coach Omabami Bly.

The last leg of the states’ Tour comes up on the December 11 at the Civic Centre Port Harcourt, Rivers State with Coach Fubara Onyenabo coordinating.

On December 12 and 13, all the states’ champions in the U18 boys and girls as well as in the men and women category would converge for the zonal finals at the Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Throughout the Tour, the 48-feet truck acquired for the purpose of developing the 3X3 will move the various equipment from state to state to facilitate a smooth organisation of the event.

The Zonal representative, Engr. Musa Kida with the assistance of AMK Foundation would be recalled acquired the state of the art 3 x 3 Synthetic Courts and Fibre glass uprights and other relevant equipment to power 3 x 3 and grassroots development of basketball in Nigeria.