By Victor Okoye
The President of Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA), Deputy Comptroller Lucky Aliyu Abubakar, says the association was established to develop grassroots basketball, not politics.
Aliyu stated this during the NTA Sports24 programme, “Sport World”, while outlining the vision of the newly established association.
He said ABA was created to promote and protect the interests of thousands of basketball academies across the country.
According to him, the association seeks to unlock the enormous potential within basketball academies through structure, exposure, and opportunities.
Aliyu said ABA was committed to building a clear pathway from raw talent to excellence in basketball development.
He identified talent discovery, nurturing, growth, and development as the association’s four core pillars.
The ABA president said regional academies and structured grassroots programmes would help identify talents early and support their development.
He urged basketball academies nationwide to register with ABA to benefit from its programmes and support initiatives.
Aliyu assured academies lacking adequate training facilities of the association’s commitment to providing assistance.
He commended the Nigeria Basketball Federation led by Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida for supporting the association.
He also praised the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, sports administrators, traditional rulers, parents, and state associations.
Aliyu said successful training and trainers’ clinics had already been held in Abuja and Minna.
He added that similar clinics would soon take place in Makurdi, Gombe, and other states.
The ABA president said the maiden Amateur Basketball Academies League would hold in Abuja and its environs next month.
According to him, the competition will provide a platform for young talents to showcase their abilities.
(NAN)