Sports
Kwara Vets Win Veterans Basketball Tourney
Kwara Vets defeated ANBB Philippines to win the 2023 Independence Day Veteran Basketball Competition held at the Dolphin Sports Hall, Punch Estate, Lagos.
In a highly competitive encounter, the Kwara team narrowly edged out ANBB Philippines 46-43 to lift the trophy.
To qualify for the finals, Kwara Vets defeated VOA Abuja 43-36, while ANBB Philippines got the better of OBV Oyo, 39-38.
Hoops Dream team from Ibadan was also on ground to take on Dolphins in an exhibition match, which ended 22 to 17 in favour of the hosts.
According to one of the organisers and CEO of Hoops Dream, Damola Awosika, the Independence Day Basketball Tournament is a competition for veteran basketball players, which started about eight years ago, involving teams from Nigeria and Ghana.
“It is an opportunity for us, as older players, to network and keep fit. The Ghanaian team has not missed a single edition since we started the competition, which shows the love and commitment they have for the game. To add to the glamour of this year event, a Filipino side also participated,” he said.
Also speaking on the event, Adetola Ajaguna, whose company, Ile Wura Nigeria Limited, contributed to the success of the competition, sponsoring basketball, is part of her company’s social responsibility.
She noted: “We sponsor the Hoops Dream and this is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility. At Ile Wura, developing youths is our core value. What Hoops Dream stands for is to develop talents in basketball from the ages of five to 18. That is why in all our estates in Ile Wura, we have a basketball court.”
The event, which had six teams in attendance, ended with the presentation of awards to outstanding players and individuals that have contributed to the growth of the competition.
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.”
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