NAN-S-4
Preparations
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Ezzamgbo (Ebonyi), May 24, 2017 (NAN) The winner of the Equatorial Conference of the Nestle Milo Secondary School Basketball Zonal Championships, St. Augustine Seminary Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi, says it has intensified preparations for the competition’s national finals in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the school last week in Enugu won the conference’s final for the seventh time since 2010, winning all its five matches.
The equatorial conference consists of teams from the South-East and South-South geo-political zones of the country.
The School’s Rector and Basketball Coach, Rev. Fr. Donatus Ofuluozor, told NAN in an interview on Wednesday that the players had commenced intensive training immediately on return from Enugu.
“The Lagos finals involving winners of each conference comes up from June 11 to June 15 at the National Stadium, Lagos, and we have to redouble our efforts in spite of savouring the euphoria of the Enugu feat.
“We are not leaving anything to chance as all the players report daily for training, including those who are sick and injured.
“We don’t give room for indiscipline as there is no star player in the team while those who fail to report or come late to training are sent back to their dormitories,’’ he said.
Ofuluozor, who is also the Ebonyi Basketball Coach, noted that there were currently no injury worries in the team as those injured at the Enugu finals sustained sprains.
“They are being monitored by our medical team and we are optimistic that they would be fit before the Lagos finals.
“All the players are our students who we adequately monitor unlike other instances where schools hire university undergraduates and even National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to participate in the championships,’’ he said.
He attributed the school’s success in the competition to God’s guidance, hardwork and the players’ commitment alongside discipline.
“We adhere strictly to the organisers’ regulations which stipulate that only players within the Junior Secondary 1 to Senior Secondary School SSS 2 should participate in the competition.
“I don’t field players that are in SSS 3 because they will be preparing for their West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) examinations among other engagements.
“This means that we field only players that are less than 17 years of age in adherence to the regulations guiding the competition,’’ the catholic priest said.
Ofuluozor said that he would apply tactical acumen and experience in the competition to outwit other teams in the Lagos finals, especially those that cheat with overage and non-secondary school players.
“That is the major problem affecting the competition and I urge the organisers to nip it in the bud to enhance its competitiveness,’’ he said. (NAN)
RCO/PDE
=======
(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)