Paucity of funds threatens Youth Alive Basketball League – Coordinator
NAN-S-10
Basketball
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos, March 29, 2017 (NAN) The coordinator, Youth Alive Basketball League, Gbade Olatona on Wednesday called on the corporate world to back Nigeria’s junior basketball league.
The junior league, a brainchild of Deepbond Basketball is powered by the Lagos State Basketball Association (LSBBA) and was in its eight years of existence, sponsored by Honeywell Flour mills.
Olatona, a veteran sports administrator and ex-international told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the annual event was facing serious challenge, particularly in the area of sponsorship.
According to him, the issue has threatened the existence of the league.
He said that the competition had played a major role in training players, referees, table officials, and helped in replacing ageing players in the major senior female and male leagues.
“We are in the week nine action and it has been very tough to get the logistics and the programme in the right perspective.
“It has been a big challenge for us in the areas of finance especially getting the referees and table officials to do their work,’’ Olatona said.
Olatona added that during the 2016 edition which ended on a spectacular note, the Lagos State Sports Council had promised to back the initiative.
“We are also yet to hear from the Lagos State Sports Council, we want to remind them about the promises they made during the conclusion of the 2016 edition.”
Meanwhile, following nine weeks of action-packed matches at the U-19 Boys category of the league, Warriors Academy led the log with 14 points.
The Warriors team lost twice and are looking good for the championship trophy if they continue to put in their best in their group.
NAN reports that the competition which dunked-off in two centres in January would come to an end in May, when the champions would be crowned.
Coming on the heels of Warriors, is Raptors with 12 points and only a loss, but behind Warriors on goals aggregate.
In the third position of the five group teams, is Warlord Academy with 10 points.
Also in the U-16 boys category, Raptors Academy with 13 points lead the pack of six teams and are looking good to be crowned champions, five weeks to go in the league.
Flygerian and Warriors Academy are second and third with 12 and 11 points and could topple the leader if they could record good wins in the remaining matches.
Hope4Girls top the U-19 girl’s category at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Yaba with 15 points having lost only one game in the eight matches played so far.
Eko Flyers and Topfield Academies are second and third of the log with 13 and 12 points respectively.
At the U-13 level, Dodan Cadets are the leading team with 14 points from seven victories in seven games and week after week are looking unbeatable.
Bobcats Academy and Deepbond Academy are second and third with 13 and 12 points but with more losses that put them well behind the league leaders, Dodan Cadets. (NAN)
BAO/ENN/MZA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Maharazu Ahmed