Basketball: Team Ondo State gears up for National Sports Festival

Ondo State Basketball Team have begun preparations ahead of the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway 2024, which holds in Ogun State early next year.
According to Oluwasuyi Olabode James, the acting chairman of Ondo State Basketball Association, the team is targeting a podium finish at the Games which necessitated the early preparation.

He stated that the Ondo State Basketball Association is out to change the narratives of the slam and dunk game in the Sunshine State, even as he identified lack of tournament’s and enabling environment as part of the problems retarding the development of the game in the state.

“We have a lot of talented youths that really want to play basketball but they can’t because they don’t have enough tournaments that will give them the desired exposure and experience.

” Some of the players that represented the state at the South -West Basketball League have the potentials but failed to shine because they haven’t been exposed to such high level of play before. But I can assure you, we’re changing the narratives.

The basketball player turn administrator, went further to state that there is hope for basketball in Ondo State as he alongside the five other South-West state Associations will be organizing various basketball activities and tournaments to rekindle the love for the sport in the State.

“With the conclusion of the Nigeria Basketball Federation Men’s Premier League, we will be sending invitations to some teams to play with us, so as to have games that will lead to more experience.
He further explained that in a bid to identify with the government and other major sports stakeholders and corporate bodies, and to help water the seeds of basketball in the state, he will be holding a South-West basketball camp in Ondo State.

“We are planning to organise an all expenses paid camp among the South-West states. Each state will come along with five boys and five girls and we are going to accommodate them for three days. And throughout the duration of the programe, they’ll be trained by top coaches in Nigeria after which they’ll be given all the basketball equipments needed to progress in their career.

The Ondo State Basketball Association boss posited that his plan for next year is to be fully involved in the hosting of the 2025 edition of the South-West Basketball League Showdown in Akure, the Ondo State Capital.
” It’s important to inform you that I’ll be discussing with Olumide Oyedeji, the sole sponsor of the South- West Basketball League on the possibility of partnering with him to host the tournament next year as it will be nice having the Championship in Akure

It would be recalled that Ondo State came fourth at the South- West Basketball League Showdown held at the basketball Court of Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, Oyo State.