Lagos – Babatunde Ogunade, the Chairman, Lagos State Basketball Association (LSBBA) on Thursday attributed the success of the Youth Alive Basketball League to the support of the state government.
Ogunade disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the conclusion of the three days finals of the 2015 Youth Alive Basketball League.
The league took place from May 25 to May 27.
“The youth league has enjoyed the backing of the state government and was attributed to the successes recorded.
“The league had produced young and dynamic players for the senior men and women national leagues in the country. [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“We are confident that the junior league will continue to develop future players as the state continues to benefit from the league’s products at the National Sports Festivals,” Ogunade said.
The LSBBA chairman called for a new structure that would enhance the synergy between the state and private companies toward sports sponsorship.
“Sports cannot thrive without the private companies’ inputs; this is why we need a structure for companies who will see the value in sports sponsorship.
“To organise sports is not a problem but funding has been a challenge.
“But we need to engineer that understanding whereby the companies that fund sports in the country have a tax relief from the government,” Ogunade said.
He, commended Honeywell Flour Mills, for having been the major sponsors of the youth league, which is in its sixth years running.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 40 basketball academies participated in the 2015 edition of the junior league that began in January.
Twenty teams that participated in the three-day finals between May 25 to May 27 were selected from the 40 youth teams.
In the finals of the U-19 boys category, Rangers, Tornadoes, Strong Tower, River Dragons, Police Rookies, Deepbond Raptors and Warriors Academy were the teams that competed for the trophy.
Deepbond Academy clinched the trophy as they beat Raptors Academy, 29-27 in a close and thrilling encounter.
Deepbond player, Mustapha Oyebamiji won the Most Valuable Players award.
In the girls U-19 category, the Police Queens, Mobolaji Queens, Raptors Angels, Hope 4 Girls, Deepbond Girls and Del Girls competed for honours.
Raptors Angels beat Hope 4 Girls, 19-18 to claim the championship trophy.
Lucy Ibeh of Raptors Angels received the Most Valuable female Player award.
Diamond Academy defeated Del Basketball Academy, 21-18 to clinch the U-15 boy’s category.
Wildcats, Topfield, River Dragon and Tornadoes were other teams that participated in the category.
Coach Charles Ibeaziako of the Raptors Angels and the Rangers teams told NAN that hard work and good structure in the academy was responsible for the teams’ successes in the league.
“I am happy for this achievement, though we didn’t win the first place in the boy’s category but it is a great achievement for our players and the academy because we worked very hard in our trainings.
“The junior league is key to the development of our academy, because as we train these kids every day we need competition to showcase their talents and develop their potentials.
“So I commend the organisers for giving these kids yet another opportunity to express themselves in a positive way other than engaging in strange and negative vices,” Ibeziako said.
NAN reports the junior league was held in three centres, the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, the Police College, Ilupeju Basketball Courts, Ilupeju. (NAN)
