Basketball Tournament Kicks Off June 5 in Abakaliki

The South-East Basketball Tournament, organized by Ugo Udezue, who represents the zone on the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, will take place from June 5 to 7 in Ebonyi State.

Udezue, also the CEO of AFA Sports, said this event aims to boost grassroots basketball and empower the youth in the area.

“Ebonyi State had no good basketball court in the whole state, but the state is producing a lot of players. Half of the Coal City Blazers, the only Premier League team in the southeast, are from Ebonyi.

“We cannot keep putting the burden on the government. As stakeholders, besides creating a good environment, we must invest in sports facilities, especially in the southeast, where football is the main sport.

“We will keep pushing for growth through better facilities. We have donated uprights in Enugu for the indoor stadium and have now built a court in Abakaliki.

“We appreciate other chairmen in the other states that have helped improve existing structures, and we will keep working on development through infrastructure.”

The tournament will happen at the Ebonyi Shopping Mall in Abakaliki. Teams from the five South-East states, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, and Abia, will take part.

A key event during the three-day tournament will be the opening of the Hon. Richard Idike Basketball Court. Udezue facilitated this court to promote basketball development and discover new talent.

Richard Idike, the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports in Ebonyi State, will be there as the Special Guest of Honour. He will officially open the court during the tournament.