NAN-S-14
Training
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Lagos State Basketball Association (LSBBA) on Tuesday began a four-day training course, tagged “Train-the-Trainers Course’’ for coaches to be licensed under the guidance of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training, which began at the Mobolaji Sports Complex, Yaba, had no fewer than 25 participants being instructed by Seyi Oyebode, a sports enthusiast.
Also, a former senior national team, D’Tigers Coach, Ayo Bakare is conducting the course.
Babs Ogunade, the Chairman of LSBBA, told NAN on the sidelines of the training that the exercise was to reposition basketball at the grassroots.
“The essence of this training is to reposition basketball at the grassroots and by so doing, we want to train coaches and bring them to the fore knowledge of the game.
“At the end of the training, the coaches will have to pass their examinations and receive certification and license to work as a coaches in Lagos.
“They will also have a social platform where they will have to connect with the association on areas they require guidance and technical support,’’ Ogunade said.
He added that the ongoing exercise was far different from what it used to be because of its uniqueness that would engineer a new concept in basketball development in the state.
“We intend to embark on clinics and run several programmes of which we will need capable hands to carry out the task ahead.
“For those coaches that pass the exams they will be part of that team that will handle the clinics and be certified to coach basketball in primary/secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
“We have a target of 3,000 to 5,000 young players that will be trained across 24 centres in Lagos, but this is just the follow up after the trainers have been certified,’’ Ogunade said.
Similarly, Seyi Oyebode, a sport enthusiast who tutored the coaches on the day one programme, said that he was pleased with the way Lagos State was going about sports development.
“It is very important to develop the coaches with the right techniques for imparting knowledge to the young players.
“If they are well equipped they will indeed deliver a good uniformed job that will harness the good talents that will be nurtured to stardom,’’ Oyebode said.
NAN reports that Coaches Lateef Erinfolamin of Lagos Islanders, Scot Nnaji of the Customs of Lagos and Shola Shomola of the Deepwaters of Lagos among other upcoming coaches were in attendance. (NAN)
BAO/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)