NAN-S-7
Basketball
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Some participants at the just-concluded Lagos State Basketball Association (LSBBA) Training the Coaches Programme on Tuesday said the exercise was a success.
The LSBBA in conjunction with the Lagos State Sports Commission organised the training to update the state’s coaches on the current trends and rules of developing basketball and handling elite duties.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 33 participants attended the programme which began on Nov. 15 and ended on Nov. 18 at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Yaba.
The course was conducted by Ayo Bakare, a versatile former coach of the senior national men’s team D’Tigers, who took the participants on the rudiments of the game.
Other resource persons include Seyi Oyebode, a sports consultant and Peter Nelson, Deputy Director, Elite Athletes Development, the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports.
The successful participants were awarded certificates of recognition and certified them to work in the LSBBA.
Lai Alimi, who took part in the programme, told NAN that it was a loaded clinic that gave him the opportunity to see things that were ignored in the past.
“I have learnt so much over the past few days and sincerely, it is a successful clinic that will go a long way to structure how I handle things, especially training the beginners.
“It made me understand the reasons I must take bio-data seriously; also the health status of any player, especially the youth at the grassroots.
“We also learnt the psychology of working with young players, especially when setting up a clinic,’’ Alimi said.
Solo Alooma said that it helped upcoming coaches to understand leadership.
He said the programme also cuts across all sports and with his background he had a broader understanding of handling youths at grassroots.
“I really gained a lot and it was essential to grab information from people who are experienced in basketball.
“The fact that we can be called upon to train youths at the tertiary institutions and in the secondary schools makes the task even more interesting working under Lagos State.
“The programme also has structure where we get and share information under social platforms, so, in one way, we feel very connected to the LSBBA in the exchange of ideas,’’ Alooma said.
Abiodun Shofoluwe on his part described the opportunity as a privileged to learn more techniques from reliable sources.
“For me, it is like returning to the four walls of a classroom where we have learned and perfected new ways of doing things.
“It has redefined my understanding, and definitely, it will make me a better coach,’’ Shofoluwe said. (NAN)
BAO/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)