Sports
Green Harps On Development Of Basketball In Rivers
The Rivers State Ministry of Sports has stressed the need to develop basketball from the grassroots level in the State.
Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Barrister Chris Green, emphasised this during the final of the second edition of the D. A. F. Basketball Youth Festival in Port Harcourt last Sunday.
The festival, which kicked off on the 21st of August 2022, featured five categories namely, the Under -10, Under-13, Under-16, Under-18 and Under-19.
No fewer than 47 teams drawn from the length and breadth of Nigeria took part in the tournament.
The teams were drawn from different age groups and it turned to be a fiesta which showcased the very best of basketball skills from precocious and prodigious talent.
Barr Green, who played vital roles in the success of the festival, weighed in on the events of the day, the impact of sports on youngsters and what the event portends for the future of sports in Rivers State.
“I don’t think, that basketball would have existed in Rivers State without Fubara Onyanabo. He’s done very well. That’s why we’re saying that we’re going to encourage him with everything we have,” Barr Green explained.
“You can see the cadres, from junior to intermediate and senior. With over forty teams coming to play, it’s definitely not a mean feat. It’s huge.
“Like I keep saying, I’m not the Commissioner for football. We are giving attention to everybody (all sports). This is the second time I’m coming to basketball for an occasion like this, and by the grace of God, of course we can see what is happening. We’ll try to help even those that helped basketball grow.
The ceremony, which was held at the Rivers State Basketball Court, saw many participants winning medals, awards and receiving gifts.
Other dignitaries that graced the occasion were Coach M. D. Opuwari (Basketball mentor of Barr Green), fondly referred to as the great, great grandfather of basketball in Rivers State, and one of the greatest basketball players ever to don the blue and white colours for Rivers State, Abraham Clinton.
Barr Green further revealed that plans have been flagged off to improve the fortunes of all sports in Rivers State.
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”